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THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY 

EDITED BY 
T. E. PAGE, LITT.D. 

E. OAPPS, PH.D., LI..D. W. H. D. ROUSE, litt.d. 



PROPERTIUS 






PKOPERTIUS 

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY 

H. E. BUTLER, M.A. 

PROFESSOR OF LATIN IN THE UNIVERSITY 
OF liONDO.N 




LONDON : WILLIAM HEINEMANN 
NEW YORK : G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 

MCMXXIX 



First published, 1912 
Heprinted, 1916, 1924, 1929 



U44 



Printtd in Ortat lirilain 



/ 

'i 



PREFACE 

A FEW words are necessary in connection with the 
text contained in tliis volume. There are a number 
of passages in Propcrtius Avhere it cannot be said 
that any certain emendation has been made. In such 
cases I have inserted tlie most plausible correction in 
the textj in order not to confuse readers of the trans- 
lation. I do not wish it to be supposed that I regard 
such corrections as certain. In some cases they are 
only a pis alter. Propcrtius presents such difficulties 
to the translator tliat an apology for its deficiencies 
is perhaps unnecessary. No one is more sensible of 
them than myself. I have attemjited, as far as pos- 
sible, to keep close to the Latin, even in cases — and 
they are not a few — where from the jioint of view of 
style a free paraphrase would have been in many 
ways preferable. 

H. E. BUTLER 

London, 1912 



THE LIFE OF PROPERTIUS 

We know little of PropertiuSj save for what we can 
gather from his own poems and a few references to 
him in later Latin writei's. His name was Sextus 
Propertius. The majority of the MSS.^ with the 
important exception of the Codex KeapoUtanus, style 
him Sextus Aurelius Propertius Nauta. Nauta is 
demonstrably absurd. Propertius expresses the live- 
liest terror of the sea in his poems, and the name is 
accounted for by the absurd reading of the MSS. in 
II. XXIV. 38, quamvis navita dives eras. Aurelius is 
equally impossible. Both Aurelius and Propertius are 
nuinina gentilicia, and such names were not doubled 
at this period. 

His birth[)lace was Assisi. The position of that 
town suits the indications given in I. xxii. and IV. i. 
61-66 and 121-126. The name Asis in the two latter 
passages (where some,following Lachmann,read Asisi), 
though not found elsewhere, seems pretty conclusive, 
while in the " Umbrian lake " mentioned in IV. i. I 24- 
we have a reference to a shallow lake in the plain 
below Assisi, which existed till the Middle Ages. 
Finally, Pliny the Younger in two of his letters (vi. 15 
and IX. 22) mentions a certain Passennus Paullus, 
a descendant of Propertius and a citizen of the same 
town. An inscription bearing his name has been 
found at Assisi. 

Propertius was born in all probability between 

vii 



THE LIFE OF PROPERTIUS 

54 B.C. (the earliest possible date for Tihullus' birlh) 
and 43 b.c. (the date of Ovid's birth). This is indi- 
cated by Ovid (^Trislia, iv. x. 51-54), who gives a 
catalogue of the elegiac poets in the following 
chronological order: Gallus, Tibullus, Propertius, 
Ovid. Further, in IV. i. 127~M0 Propertius implies 
that he lost his f'.ither while very young, and entered 
on his diminished inheritance shortly after the distri- 
bution of land among the veterans of Octavian and 
Antony in 41 b.c. Furtlier, I. xxi. shows that he was 
old enough to be impressed by the death of a relative 
or neighbour in the Perusine war of 40 d.c. His birth 
may therefore be conjecturally placed between 50 
and 48 B.c. The mention of his having worn the 
aiaea l)u//a(lV. i. 131-1.34) shov.s him to have been of 
equestrian rank (see Plin. N. H. xxxiii. 10), wiiile from 
the same passage we learn that he had been destined 
for the bar, but deserted it for poetry. Soon after his 
assumption of the toga virilis he fell in love with a 
certain Lycinna (III. xv. 3-6). How long tliis liolson 
lasted we caimot tell ; we only know that his meeting 
with Cynthia caused him to forget Lycinna but two 
years after his first acquaintance with love (111. xv, 
7, 8). Cynthia was the one deep passion of his life ; she 
was tlie first woman wliom he really loved, and there 
is nothing to make us think that she was not the last, 
though in the end, no doubt after many infidelities 
on both sides, he broke with her (see last two elegies 
of Book III.). Cynthia's real name was Hostia, a 
fact which we learn from Apuleius' Apologia (c. x.). 
She was a courtesan, for II. vii. 7 shows that it was im- 
possible for him to marry her : the lex Papia Poppaea 
enacted that no man of free birth might marrv a 
prostitute, and the only possible interpretation of 
the passage in question is that the unknown law to 
viii 



THE LIFE OF PROPERTIUS 

which Propertius refers contained similar provisions. 
Further, the same poem shows that he was unmarried 
and unwiUing to marry any one else, Avhile there can 
be no doubt tliat Cynthia was unmarried, for among 
the objects of his jealousy Propertius never makes 
mention of a husband. It is possible that she may 
have been descended from Ilostius, an epic poet of the 
second century B.C. (see III. xx. 8, note). We gather 
from the poenis of Propertius that she had a gift for 
singing, dancing, and poetry, was tall and yellow- 
haired, with black eyes. We cannot trace the history 
of the liaison with any clearness. Neither party was 
faithful, and the course of love did not run smooth. 
On one occasion (see III. xvi. 9) there was a breach 
which lasted for a whole year. The quarrel was, 
however, made up, and at the close of the third 
book, where Propertius finally breaks with her, he 
claims to have been her faithful slave for five years 
(III. XXV. 3). In the fourth book Cynthia is men- 
tioned in only two poems (vii. and viii.), though there 
is probably a reference to her in the fifth elegy ; the 
seventh tells us that she died neglected and was 
buried near Tibur. 

Propertius left four books of elegies behind him. 
It is hard to determine the dates of their publica- 
tion. It is probable that Book I. was published about 
26 B.c.,1 Book II. about 24 or early in 23 B.C., Book III. 
in 22 or 21 B.C. The fourth book was published not 
earlier than l6 B.C., as both the fifth and eleventh 
poems refer to events of that year. As to the latter 
years of Propertius' life we know nothing. It is 
perhaps probable that he died not long after the 

1 It was published separately under the title Cynthia. 
Cp. II. III. 4 (also Martial, xiv. IS'J). In some of the MSS. 
of Propertius it has the title Cynthia MonobiUos. 

ix 



THE MSS. OF PROPERTIUS 

c. Id addition to these MSS. there are a large 
number of inferior fifteenth-century MSS. Among 
these are two MSS. which since the edition of 
Baehrens have appeared in the cpparalus ciilicus of 
modern texts. Tlicy are (l) the Codex Davenlriensis 
(1792); now at Deventer, and the Codex Ottuhouimw- 
I'alicaiius (151 i), now in the ^'^atican. Both are late- 
fiCteenth-century MS.S. Mr. O. L. Richmond [Journal 
of Philology, XXXI. iGl) lias shown that tliey do not 
deserve the position assigned to them by Baehrens, 
and that they must be ranked among tlie inferior 
MSS. as possessing no independent \ahic. 

Where MSS. other than N, A, F, L, ji, v are 
mentioned their catalogue reference is given. 

The text of Proj)ertius is undoul)tedly very corrupt. 
The sequence of tliought is at times so broken tliat 
the reader necessarily concludes that one of two 
things has happened : («) couplets have been lost, 
or (6) the order of the lines has been dislocated. 
While the second alternative is possible, and while 
various scholars (the best examjile is Professor 
Postgate in the new Corpus Voelarum L(iliiionim) 
have attempted to save the situation by wholesale 
transposition, as yet no scientific system of trans- 
position has been discovered, and no satisfactory 
theory has been put forward to account fur the 
dislocation. The first is therefore the safer course. 



xn 



NOTE ON THE DIVISION INTO 
BOOKS 

Lachmann held that Projiertius' poems should be 
divided mto five books, not, as the MSS. divide 
them, into four. His main argument is based on 
II. XIII. rt 25, aat mea sit magno, si ires sinl pompa lihelli. 
He argues that the words tres libelli show that the 
poem in question must have formed part of the third 
i)ook. He therefore made the third book begin with 
n. X., and treated the third and fourth books as 
recorded in the MSS. as fourth and fifth. But it 
does not seem necessary to give the words tres 
lihelli so literal a meaning, and it is worth noting 
that the grammarian Nonius, p. 1 ()f), quotes III. xxi. 1 4 
as coming from the third book. 1 he division as given 
in our MSS. would seem, therefore, to be as old as 
Nonius. Lachmann's division is followed in some 
texts {e.g., Haupt-Vahlen and L. Miiller), and much 
confusion has been caused as regards references to 
Propertius. Birt {Das Aiitike Buchwesen, pp. 413-426) 
has a theory that the first book was published 
separately under the title of Monohihlos, and that 
the rest of the poems make up four books of Elegies, 
our present Book II. being divided into 1-1 I and 
12-34. The absence of all quotations by ancient 
grammarians from our Book I. marks it as separate 
from the others. 

xiii 



BIHI.IOGUAPHICAL NOTE 

The first edition, with commentary, of Propertius was 
published in 1487 (ed. Beroaldus). Baehrens (Leipzig, 
1880), following in the steps of Laehmann, put the 
text on a scientific basis. His text is much marred 
by arbitrary and tasteless conjectures, but the preface 
is important. Since then texts have been edited by 
Palmer (London, 1880), Postgate (in Corpus Poetarum 
Latinorum, London, 1894'), Phillimore (Oxford, 1901, 
and Riccardi Press, London, 191 1)^ Hosius (Teubner 
Series, 1912)- Of these Postgate's text alone is other 
than conservative in tendency. The only modern com- 
mentaries are by Rothstein (Berlin, 1898) and Butler 
(London, 1905). Of the older commentaries those 
of Passerat (Paris, l608), Laehmann (Leipzig, 1816), 
and Hertzberg (Halle, 1843-45) will on the whole be 
found most useful. There are also good editions of 
selected elegies by Postgate (London, 1881) and 
Ramsay (Oxford, 1900, 3rd ed.). The sixth edition 
of Haupt's recension (1904, Leipzig), revised by 
Vahlen, and accompanied by texts of Catullus and 
Tibullus, is an elegant volume, which follows Lach- 
mann's division into five books, and contains no 
apparatus criticus. 

For literary estimates of Propertius the reader may 
go to Sellar, Roman Poetry under Augustus : Elegiac 
Poets (Oxford), and Ribbeck's well-known History of 
Roman Poetry. 

XV 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 

Tlie most important separate treatises on the MSS. 
are Solbiskvj Dc Cadd. Propertii (Weimar, 1882); 
Housman, Journal of Philology, vols, x.xi., .wii., Nos. 
41-43; Postgate, Some MSS. of Proper lius (^Trails. 
Cambridge P/iilol. Soc. iv. l); while O. L. Riclimond, 
Towards a Recension of Propcrlius (^Journal of Philo- 
los.li, vol. XXXI.), is also worth consulting. For a 
general discussion of questions connected with Pro- 
j)ertius see Plessis, Etudes sur Properce (Paris, 1884), 
and more especially Schanz, Geschichle der Pmnischen 
Lifieratur, Part 2, § 28") sqq. Teuflel's History of 
Latin Literature (English trans.) contains mudi of 
the same information, but is an older book and less 
thorough. 



SIGLA 

N = Codex Neapolitanus. 

A = Codex Vossianus. 

F = Codex Laurentianus. 

L = Codex Holkhamicus. 

1^1 = Codex Parisinus or Memmianus. 

V = Codex Urbinas. 

r = Codices deteriores. 



xvi 






PROPERTIUS 
BOOK I 



SEXTI PROPERTI 
ELEGIARYM 

LIBER PRIMVS 



Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis, 

contactum nullis ante cupidinibus. 
turn mihi co nstantis deiecit lumina fastus 

at caput impositis pressit Amor pedibiiSj 
donee nie docuit castas odisse puellas 

impi'obuSj et nuUo vivere consilio. 
et mihi iam toto furor hie non deficit anno, 

cum tamen adversos cogor habere deos. 
Milanion nullos fugiendo, Tulle, labores 

saevitiam durae contudit lasidos. 10 

nam modo Partlieniis amens errabat in antris, 

ibat etiiirsutas ille videre feras; 
ille etiam Hylaei percussus verbere ^ rami 

saucius Arcadiis rupibus ingemuit. 
ergo velocem potuit domuisse puellam : 

tantum in amore pr£ces et bene facta valent- 
injne tardus Amor non uUas cogitat artes, 

nee meminit notas, ut prius, ire vias. 

1 verbere Baehrena: vulaere N: arbuie AP, 
i 



PROPERTIUS 
THE ELEGIES 

THE FIRST BOOK 



Ah ! woe is me ! 'twas Cynthia first ensnared me 
with her eyes ; till then my heart had felt no 
passion's fire. But then Love made me lower my . 
glance of pride steadfast, and with implanted feet 
bowed down my head, till of liis cruelty he taught • 
me to spurn all honest maids, and to live a life of 
recklessness. 

' A year has passed and my madness is not 
stayed, though my suit perforce endures the frown 
of heaven. Yet Milanion shrank not, Tullus, from 
any toils, liowsoe'er hard, and so subdued the cruel 
heart of the unrelenting daughter of lasus. For ' 
now he wandered love-distraught in the Parthenian 
caverns, and went to face the shaggy creatures of 
the wild. Nay, more, hai'dstricken once, by the club 
of Hylaeus, he groaned in agony on/4he I'ocks of 
Arcady. So at last was he able to conquer the 
swift-footed maid ; such is the reward that prayers 
and loyal service win for love. But for me, slow- 
witted Love hath lost ijis craft and forgets to tread 
the paths that once he trod. 



SEXTI PROPEUTI ELEGIARVM LIIiEll I 

at vos, deductae (][uibus est fallacia lunae 

et labor in magicis sacra piare focis, 20 

en agedum dominae mentem convertite nostrae, 

et facite ilia meo palleat ore magis ! 
tunc ego crediderim vobis et sidera et amnes 

posse Cytaeines ^ duccre carmiiiibus. 
aut ^ vos, qui sero lapsum revocatis, amici, 

quaerite noil sani pectoris auxilia. 
fortiter et ferrum saevos mtiemur et ignes, 

sit modo libertas quae velit ira loqui. 
ferte per extremas gentes et ferte per undas, 

qua non uUa meum femina norit iter : 30 

vos remanete, quibus facili deus aunuit aure, 

sitis et in tuto semper amore pares, 
in me nosti'a Venus noctes exercet amaras^) 

et nullo vacuus tempore defit Amor, 
hoc, moneo, vitate mjilmn : sua cpicmque moretur 

cura, neque assueto mutet amoi'e locum, 
quod si quis monitis tardas adverterit aures, 

heu referet quanto verba dolore mea ! 



II 

QviD iuvat ornato procedere, vita, capillo 
et tenues Coa veste movere sinus? 

aut quid Orontea crines perfundere murra, 
teque peregrinis vendere muneribus ; 

1 Cytaeines Hertzherg : cytlialinis etc. NAF. 

2 aut Hemsterhuyi : et NAF. 



K 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

^^ But ye who beguile men's hearts by lui-ing the 
moon from heaven, and toil to solemnise dread rites 
on magic altars, go change my mistress' heart and 
make her cheeks grow paler than mine own. Then 
will I trust your claim to have power over stars and 
rivers to lead them whithersoever ye will by Colchian 
charms. 

25 Or else do ye, my friends, that would recall me 
all too late from the downward slope, seek all the 
remedies for a heart diseased. Bravely will I bear 
the ei'uel cautery and the knife, if only 1 may win 
liberty to speak the words mine anger prompts. 
Ah I bear me far thro' nations and seas at the world's 
end, where never a woman may trace my path. Do 
ye abide at home, to whose prayer the god gives easy 
audience and answers " Yea," and either to other 
make equal response of love unperilous. Against me 
Venus, our common mistress, plies nights of bittei*- 
ness, and Love that hath no respite ffiileth never. 

25 Lovers, I warn ye all. Fly the woe that now is 
mine : cling each one to his own beloved, and never 
change when love has found its home. But if any 
all too late give ear to these my warnings, ah ! with 
what agony will he recall my words ! 



II 

What boots it, light of my life, to go forth with 
locks adorned, and to rustle in slender folds of Coan 
silk ? Or avails it aught to steep thy tresses in the 
myrrh of Orontes, to parade thyself in the gifts that 
aliens bring, to spoil the grace of nature by the 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 

naturaeque dccus nicrcato_perdere cultu, 

nee sinere in propriis membra nitere bonis ? 
crede mihi, non ulla tua est medicina figurae : 

nudus Amor formae non amat artificem. 
aspice quos siimmittat luimus Formosa colores; 

ut veniant bederae sponte sua melius, 10 

surgat et in solis foimosius arbutus antris, 

et sciat indociles currere lymplia \i;is. 
litora nativis persuadent picta lapillis, 

et volucres nulla dulcius arte canunt. 
non sic Leucippis suceendit Castora Phoebe, 

Pollucem cultu non Hibiira soror ; 
non, Idae et cupido quondam discordia Phoebo, 

Eueni patriis filia litovibus ; 
nee Phrygium i'also traxit candore maritum 

avecta externis Hippodamia rotis : 20 

sed facias aderat nullis obnoxia gemmis, ' 

qualis Apelleis est color in tabulis. 
lion illis studium'vulgo conquirere amantes : 

illis am})la satis forma pudicitia. 
non ejjo nunc verear ? ne ^ sim tibi vilior istis : 

uni si qua placet, culta puella sat est ; 
cum tibi praesertim Phoebus sua carmina donet 

Aoniamque libens Calliopea lyram, 
\ _ anica nee desit iucundis gratia verbis, 

omnia quaeque Venus, quacque Minerva probat. 30 
his tu semper eris nostrae gratissima vitae, 

tiiedia dum miserae sint tibi luxuriae. 

1 verear ? ne Jaroh : vereor ne XA F. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

charms that gold can buy nor allow thy limbs to 
shine in the glory that is their own ? Believe me, 
thou hast no art can make thy form more fair ; Love 
himself goes naked and hates those that make a craft 
of beauty. See what hues lovely earth sends iorth ; 
'tis the wild ivy springs fairest ever; loveliest the 
arbutus that grows in the caverns of the wilderness, 
and all untaught are the channels where the waters 
run. Begemmed with native pebbles the shores 
beguile our eyes, and birds sing sweetlier from their 
lack of art. 

15 'Twas not by art that Phoebe, Leucippus' child, 
fired the heart of Castor, nor by adornments that 
Hilaira her sister won the love of Pollux. Not so 
did Euenus' daughter become a bride, for whom of 
old Idas and passionate Phoebus strove ; by no false 
brilliance did Hippodamia lure to her side her 
Phrygian spouse, and was whirled away on alien 
chariot-wheels. Unto no jewels their faces were 
beholden, pure as the hues that shine in Apelles' 
pictures. They never craved to gather lovers through 
all the land ; enough for them, if their beauty was 
clothed with chastity. Have I not then good cause 
for fear.'' Ah! count me not cheaper than those 
vile wretches that seek thy love ! With one true 
lover a maid hath enough of honour; so most of all, 
if Phoebus grant, as to thee, his boon of song and 
Calliope, nothing loth, bestow Aonia's lyre, and every 
merry word is graced with wondrous charm, even 
by all that Venus and all that Minerva loves. All 
these things shall make thee dearest to my heart, if 
thou wilt but cast aside thy hateful luxury. 



7 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 

III 

QvALis Thesea iacuit cedente carina 

languida desertis Gnosia litovibus ; 
qualis et accubuit primo Ccpheia souuio 

libera iani duriscotibus Androiuede ; 
nee minus assiduis Edoiiis fessa choreis 
. qualis in herboso concidit Apidano": 
talis visa mihi mollem spirare quietem 

Cynthia non certis nixa caput manibus, 
ebria cum multo traherem vestigia Baccho, 

et quaterent sera nocte facem pueri. 10 

hanc ego, nonduni etiam sensus deperditus omnes, 

molliter impresso conor adire toro ; 
et quamvis duplici correptum ardore iuberent 

hac Amor hac Liber, durus uterque deus, 
subiecto leviter positam temptare lacerto 

osculaque admota sumere avara ' mann, 
non tamen ausus eram dominae turbare quietem, 

expertae metuens inrgia saevitiae ; 
sed sic intcntis haerebam fixus ocellis, 

Arffus ut ijxnotis cornibus Inachidos. 20 

et mode solvebam nostra de fronte corollas 

ponebamqiie tuis, Cynthia, temporibus ; 
et modo gaudebam lapsos formare capillos ; 

nunc furtiva cavis poma dabam manibus ; 
omniaque ingrato largibar munera somno, 

munera de prono saepe voluta sinu ; 

t avara Baehrens : et arma NAP. 

a 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

III 

Like as the maid of Cnossus lay swooning on the 
desert strand whilst the bark of Theseus sped swift 
away, or as Andromeda, child of Cepheus^ank into 
her first sleep, freei at last fro m her harff~couch 
of rock, or as the Thracian maenad, no less fore- 
done by the unending dance, lies sunk in slumber 
on the grassy banks of Apidanus, even so, me- 
seemed, did Cynthia breathe the spirit of gentle 
rest, her head propped on faltering hands, when I 
>came dragging home my reeling feet, drunken 
with deep draughts of wine, and the slaves were 
shaking their dying torches in the gloom of night 
far-spent. 

^^ Not yet were all my senses drowned, and I strove 
to approach her where she lay, and lightly pressed 
against her couch. And although a twofold frenzy 
had laid hold upon me, and the two inexorable gods 
of wine and love urged on this side and on that, with 
gentle touch I tried to pass mine arm about her where 
she lay, and with outstretched hand take passionate 
toll of kisses ; yet I had not dared to break in upon 
my mistress' rest (for I feared the bitter chidings of 
that cruel tongue, so oft endured by me), but fixed 
my gaze upon her with tireless eyes, even as Argus ^ 
glared on the strange horned brow of the^daughter 
of Jnachus. And now I loosed the chaplets from my 
brow and placed them, Cynthia, about thy head, and 
now rejoiced to compose thy straying locks ; and 
stealthily with hollowed hands gave thee apples, 
and on thy thankless slumbers lavished every gift, 
gifts poured abundantly from my bosom as I bowed 
above thee. And if at times thou didst move and 



> 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 

et quotiens rai-o duxti ^ suspiria motu, 

obstupui vnno credulus auspicio, 
ne qua tibi iiisolitos portarent visa, timores, 

neve quis invitam cogeret esse siiam : SO 

donee diversas praecurrens luna fenestniSj 

hina moratinis sediila luminibus, 
compositos levibus radiis patefecit ocellos. 

sic ait in moUi fixn toro cubitum : 
"tandem te nostro referens iniuria lecto 

alterius clausis expulit e foribus ? 
namque ubi longa meae consunipsti tempora noctis, 

biDgaidus exactis, ei milii, sideribus ? 
o utinam tales perducas, iinprobe, noctes, 

me miseiam quales semper habere iubes ! 40 

nam modo purpureo fallebam stamine somnum, 

rursus et Orpheae carmine, fessa, h'rae ; 
interdum leviter mecum deserta querebar 

externo longas saepe in amore moras : 
dum me incundis lapsam sopor impulit alis. 

ilia fuit lacrimis ultima cura meis." 

IV 

QviD mihi tam multas laudando, Basse, puellas 

mutatum domina cogis abire mea? 
quid me non pateris vitae quodcumque sequetur 

hoc magis assueto ducere servitio ? 
tu licet Antiopae fbrmam Nycteidos, et tu 

Spartanae referas laudibus Hermioiiae, 
1 duxti S": duxit NAP. 
\0 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

sigh, I started for fear (though vain was the presage 
which won my beUef) that visions of the night 
brought thee strange terrors or that some phantom- 
lover constrained thee to be his against thy will. 

31 But at last the moon gliding past the windows 
over against her couch^ the ollicious moon with linger- 
ing light, opened her fast-closed eyes with its gentle 
beams. Then with elbow propped on the soft couch 
she cried : 

35 " At length another's scorn has driven thee 
forth and closed the doors against thee and brought 
thee home to my bed once more. For where hast thou 
passed the long hours of the night, that was plighted 
to me, thou that comest to me outworn when the 
stars — ah, me I — are driven from the sky ? Mayst 
thou, cruel heart, endure the long agony of nights 
such as ever thou bidst me broken-hearted keep. For 
but now I was beguiling mine eyes from slumber 
with purple broidery, and then, work-wearied, with 
the music of Orpheus' lyre. And ever and anon, left 
thus forlorn, I made gentle moan unto myself, that 
oft thoulingerest locked in another's arms, till at the 
last I sank down and sleep fanned my limbs with 
kindly Avings. That was my last thought amid my 



tears. 



IV 



Why, Bassus, by praising the beauty of so many 
fair ones dost thou urge me to change my course 
and leave my mistress ? Why sufferest thou me not 
to spend in her fetters, to which my heart grows ever 
more enured, whate'er of life the future has in store .'' 
Thou mayest praise the beauty of Antiopa, the child 
of Nycteus, the charms of Spartan Hermione and all 

U 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LI BE P. I 

et quascumque tulit fonnosi temporis aetas: 

Cynthia non illas nomen habere sinat : 
nedum, si levibus fuerit collata figuris, 

inferior duro iudice turpis eat. 10 

haec sed forma mei pars est extrema furoris ; 

sunt maiora, quibus, Basse, perire iuvat : 
ingenuus color et nuiltis decus artibus, et quae 

gaudia sub tacita dicere veste libet. 
quo magis et nostros contendis solvere amoreSj 

hoc magis accepta fallit uterque fide, 
non impune feres : sciet haec insana puella 

et tibi non tacitis vocibus hostis erit ; 
nee tibi me post haec committet Cynthia nee te 

quaeret; erit tanti criminis ilia memor, 20 

et te circum omnes alias irata puellas 

differet: heu nuUo limine carus eris. 
nullas ilia suis contemnet fletibus aras, 

et quicumque sacer, qualis ubique, lapis, 
non ullo gravius temptatur Cynthia damno, 

quam sibi cum rapto cessat amore deus : 
praecipue nostri. maneat sic semper, adoro, 

nee quicquam ex ilia quod querar inveniam 

V 

Invide, tu tandem voces compesce molestas 
et sine nos cursu, quo sumus, ire pares ! 

quid tibi vis, insane ? meos sentire furores? 
infelix, properas ultima nosse mala, 

12 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

the maids the age of beauty bore ; yet Cynthia would 
make their glory pale ; still less, were she compared 
with meaner beauties, would the harshest judge 
declare her the less fair. Yet even her shapely form 
is but the least part of that which frenzies me. Yet 
greater charms are thei'e, for which, Bassus, to die 
with passion is my joy. A natural colour, grace 
sprung from skill in many an art, and joys whereof 
her couch keeps the secret. 

1^ The more thou strivest to dissolve our love, 
the more doth either of us cheat thy craft with un- 
shaken loyalty. Nor shalt thou go scatheless for 
this ; the frenzied maid shall know what thou hast 
done, and by no gentle outcry shall prove thy foe, 
nor will Cynthia henceforth entrust me to thy 
care nor seek thy company ; such crime as thine 
she will remember ever, and in her wrath will defame 
thee in every beauty's ear ; henceforth, alas ! no 
threshold shall give thee welcome. No altar shall be 
too humble a witness for her tears, no sacred effigy, 
whate'er its sanctity, shall fail to know her grief. 
No loss touches Cynthia so deeply as when a lover's 
heart is stolen from her and Cupid spreads his wings ; 
deepest of all her grief if 'tis my love she loses. Ah ! 
may she ever, 1 pray, abide thus, and may I never find 
aught in her to cause me to lament. 



Envious, hush now at length thy unwelcome 
prayers, and let us go hand in hand along the path 
that now we tread. What wouldst thou, madman > 
Wouldst thou suffer frenzies such as mine ? Poor 
wretch, thou hastest to acquaint thyself with the 

IS 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
et miser ignotos vestigia ferre per igiies, 

et bibere e tota toxica Thessalia. 
non est ilia vagis similis c^JJ^Lta puellis : 

molliter irasci non solet ilia tibi. 
quod si forte tuis non est contraria votis, 

at tibi curariini inilia quanta dabit ! 10 

non tibi iam somnos, non ilia relinquet_oc^ellDS : 

ilia feros animis alli<rat una viros, 
a, naea contemptus quotiens ad limina curres, 

cum tibi singultu fortia verba cadent, ^ 
et tremulus maestis orietur flelibus horror, 

et timer informem ducet in ore notam, 
et quaecumque voles fugient tibi verba quereiiti, 

nee poteris, qui sis aut ubi, nosse miser, 
turn grave servitiura nostrae cogere puellae 

discere et exclusum quid sit abire domum; 20 

nee iam pallorem totiens mirabere nostrum, 

aut cur sim toto corpore nullus ego. 
nee tibi nobilitas poterit succurrere amanti : 

nescit Amor priscis cedere imaginibus. 
quod si parva tuae dederis vestigia culpae, 

quam cito de tanto nomine rumor eris ! 
non ego turn potero solacia ferre roganti, 

cum mihi nulla mei sit medicina niali ; 
sed pariter miseri socio cogemur amore 

alter in alterius mutua flere sinu. SO 

quare, quid possit niea Cynthia, desine, Galle, 

quaerere : non inipune ilia rogata venit. 



14 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

■worst of ills, to tread on hidden fire to thy sorrow 
and drink all Thessaly's store of poison. Shouldst 
thou compare her^ she is not like those flighty loves 
of thine ; her anger is no light thing. Nay, even if 
perchance she frown not wholly on thy prayers, yet 
what a world of care she will bring thee ! No more 
will she suffer thee to sleep nor thine eyes to range at 
will; she, as none other, can bind the untamed ot 
heart. Ah, how often wilt thou run to my doors a 
rejected suitor, when thy bi-ave speech shall fail for 
sobs, and a chill shuddering and bitter weeping shall 
come upon thee, when fear shall trace disfiguring 
lines upon thy face, and the words thou wouldst 
speak die on thy lips in the midst of thy complaining 
and thou canst no more tell, poor wretch, who or 
where thou art ! 

19 Then slialt thou be constrained to learn how 
bitter a thing it is to bear my mistress' yoke, and 
what it means to i-eturn homeward when her doors 
are barred. Not any more shalt thou marvel so oft 
at the pallor of my face nor wherefore my whole 
frame is wasted into naught. Nor will thy high 
birth avail thee in thy love : Love scorns to yield 
to ancient ancestry. But if thou givest but the least 
sign of faithlessness, how soon will thy name, so 
powerful now, be a mere byword I I shall not then 
be able to console thee when thou comest asking 
aid, for mine own woe is cureless ; but we shall be 
constrained, comrades in love and woe, to weep 
tears of sympathy, either on other's breast. Where- 
fore cease. Callus, to seek to learn my Cynthia's 
power. Heavy the toll they pay in answer to whose 
prayer she comes. 



15 



SEXTI PROPEUTl ELEGIARVM LIBER I 



VI 

NoN ego nunc Hadriae vcreor mare noscere tecum, 

TullCj neque Aegaeo ducere vela salo, 
cum quo Rliipaeos possim coiiscendere montes 

ulteriusque domos vadere Memnonias ; 
sed me complexae remorantur verba puellae, 

mutatoque graves saepe colore preces. 
ilia mihi totis argutat noctibus ignes, 

et queritur nuUos esse relicta deos ; 
ilia meam mihi iam se denegat, ilia minatur, 

quae solet irato tristis arnica viro. 10 

his ego non horam possum durare querelis : 

a pereatj si quis leiitus amare potest ! 
an mihi sit tanti doctas cognoscere Athenas 

atque Asiae veteres cernere divitias, 
ut mihi deducta faciat convicia puppi 

Cynthia et insanis ora notet manibus, 
osculaque opposito dicat sibi debita vento, 

et nihil infido durius esse viro ? 
tu patrui meritas conare anteire secures, 

et Vetera oblitis iura refer sociis. 20 

nam tua rion aetas umquam cessavit amori, 

semper et armatae cura fuit patriae ; 
et tibi non umquam nostros puer iste labores 

afferat et lacrimis omnia nota meis ! 
me sine, quern semper voluit fortuna iacere, 

banc animam extremae reddere nequitiae. 
16 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 



VI 

TuLLUS, I fear not now to brave the Adrian waves 
with thee nor to spread my sails on the Aegean main ; 
with thee I could scale the Rhipean iieiglits or pass 
beyond the home of Memnon. But the words of my 
mistress as she hangs about my neck, her urgent 
prayers, her changing colour, all keep me back. All 
through the night she shrilly protests her love, and 
laments that she is left forlorn and that the gods are 
vanished out of heaven. Mine though she be, she 
will not yield herself, and. uses all those threats 
that an aggrieved mistress will use to an angry 
lover. Not even an hour can 1 endure to live 
amid such complaints as these ; perish the man 
that dares love luipassionately ! Is it worth my 
while to visit learned Athens or to behold the ancient 
wealth of Asia, that Cynthia may upbraid me when 
my bark is launched and mar her face^ with passionate 
hands, and cry that she owes kisses to the wind that 
stays my journeying and that there is nauglit more 
cruel than a faithless lover? 

^9 Do thou strive to outdo thine uncle's well- 
earned rule 2 and restore to the allies their long- 
forgotten rights. For thy youth has never yielded 
to love, and thy care has ever been for thy country's 
arms. Never may the accursed boy lay sorrows such 
as mine on thee, nor all the torments that my tears 
know well ! Let me, whom Fortune hath ever willed 
to lie prostrate, yield up my life obedient to the 
worst her wantonness can demand. Many have 

1 Or perhaps "scar my face." 

2 Lit., axes of office. His uncle, Volcatius Tulius, must 
have been proconsul of Asia. 

B 17 



SEXTI PROPEIITI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
multi longinquo periere in amore libenter, 

in quorum numero me quoque terra tegat. 
non ego sum laudi, non natus idoneus arinis : 

banc me militi^m fata subire volunt. 30 

at tu seu mollis qua tendit Ionia, scu qua 

Lydia Pactoli tingit arata liquor; 
seu pedibus terras seu pontuni carpere reniis 

ibis, et accepti pars eris im})erii : 
tum tibi si qua mei veniet non immemor hora, 

vivere me duro sidere certus eris. 

VII 

DvM tibi Cadmeae dicuntur, Ponticc, Thebae 

armaque fraternae tristia militiae, 
atque, ita sim felix, primo contendis Homero, 

(sint modo fata tuis niollia carminibus :) 
nos, ut consuemus, nostros agitamus amores, 

atque aliquid duram quaerimus in dominam ; 
nee tan tum ingenio quantum servire dolori 

cogor et aetatis tempora dura queri. 
hie mihi conteritur vitae modus, haec mea fama est, 

hinc cupio nomen carminis ire mei. 10 

me laudent doctae solum placuisse puellae, 

Ponticc, et iniustas saepe tulisse minas ; 
me legat as^idue post haec neglectus amator, 

et prosint illi cogiiita nostra mala, 
te quoque si certo puer hie concusserit area, 

(quod nolim nostros evoluisse ^ deos) 
1 evoluisse BerocUdus on alleged MS. authority : eviolasse KA P. 
18 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

gladly perished in gyves of love^ that they have 
borne so long, and^ wlien earth laps me round, let 
me be one of these. Nature has not fitted me for 
glory or for arms ; Love's is the only warfare for 
which the Fates design me. 

2' But thou, whether thy steps be cast where soft 
Ionia s])rea(ls its shores, or where Pactolus' stream 
steeps Lydia's ploughlands, whether thou rangest 
the land on foot or goest forth to lash the sea with 
oars, and makest one of those that rule and are loved 
by them they rule — then shalt thou be sure, if e'er a 
moment comes with memories of me, that I still live 
beneath a baleful star. 

VII 

Whilst thou singest, Ponticus, of Cadmean Thebes, 
and the bitter warfare of fraternal strife, and — so may 
heaven smile on me, as I speak truth — dost rival 
Homer for crown of song (if only the Fates be kind 
to thy verse), I, as is my wont, still ply my loves, 
and seek for some device to o'ercome my mistress' 
cruelty. I am constrained rather to serve my sorrow 
than my wit and to bemoan the hardship that my 
youth endures. 

^ Thus is my whole life passed : this is my 
glory : this is the title to fame I claim for my song. 
Let my only praise be this, that I pleased the heart 
of a learned maid, and oft endured her unjust 
threatenings. Henceforth let neglected lovers read 
diligently my words, and let it profit them to learn 
what woes were mine. Thou too, should the boy 
strike thee with unerring shaft — but may the gods I 
serve ordain i thee other doom — shalt weep in misery 

1 evoluisse ; lit., unroll. 

19 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER 1 

longe castra tibi, longe miser agmina septem 

flebis in aeterno surda iacere situ ; 
et frustra cupies mollem componere versum, 

nee tibi subiciet carmina serus Amor. 20 

tiim me non humilem mirabere saepe poetam, 

tunc e<fo Romanis praeferar ingeniis ; 
nee polerunt iuvenes nostro reticere sepulcro 

" Ardoris nostri magne poeta^ iaces." 
tu eave nostra tup contemnas carmina fastu : 

saepe venit magno faenore tardus Amor. 



VIII 

TvNE igitur demens, nee te mea cura moratur ? 

an tibi sum gelida vilior Illyria? 
et tibi iam tanti^ quicumque estj iste videtur, 

ut sine me vento quolibet ire velis ? 
tune audire potes vesani murmnra ponti 

fortis, et in dura nave iacere potes ? 
tu pedibus teneris positas fulcire pruinas,' 

tu potes insolitas, Cynthia, ferre nives ? 
o utinam hibernae duplicentur tempora brumae, 

et sit iners tardis navita Vergiliis, 10 

nee tibi Tyrrhena solvatur funis harena, 

neve inimica mcas elevet aura preces ! 
atque ego non videam tales subsidere ventos, 

cum tibi provectas auferet unda rates, 

1 pruiiias 5~ : ruiiias NAF. 
20 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

that thy seven leaguered hosts are cast aside and lie 
dumb in everlasting neglect, and in vain shalt thou 
desire to write soft songs of passion ; Love come so 
late shall ne'er inspire thy song. 

21 Then shalt thou marvel at me as no mean 
singer; then shalt thou rank me above the bards 
of Rome ; and youths perforce will cry above my 
tomb : " Mighty singer of our passion, dost thou lie 
so low ?" Beware tlien lest in thy pride thou spurn 
my song. Love that comes late oft claims a heavy 
toll. 



VIII 

Art thou then mad ? Does no care for me stay thy 
going ? Am I of less account to thee than chill Illyria P^ 
And esteemest thou that wretch, whoe'er he be, so 
highly that thou art ready to leave me and fly to his 
arms on any wind that blows ? Canst thou bear 
unmoved the roar of the raging deep .'' canst thou 
make thy couch on the hard ship's-bench ? or press 
with tender feet the fallen hoar-frost ? or endure, 
my Cynthia, the unfamiliar snows .'' Ah, would that 
the wintry season's storms were doubled, and the 
Pleiads' rising delayed, that the sailor might tarry 
idle and the cables ne'er be loosed from the Tyrrhene 
strand nor the cruel breeze make light of my prayers 
to thee ; and yet may I never see such winds subside, 
when thy bark puts out to sea and the wave bears it 

1 Cp. II. XVI. 

21 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELKGIARVM LIBER I 

ut ^ me defixum vacua patiatur in ora 

crudelem infesta saepe vocare manu ! 
sed quocumque modo de me, periura, mereris, 

sit Galatea tuae non aliena viae : 
utere ^ felici praevecta Ceiaunia vemo ; 

accipiat placidis Oricos aequoribus. 20 

nam me non ullae poterunt cuiixumpere, de te 

quin ego, vita, tuo limine acerba^ querar; 
nee me defieiet nautas rogitare citatos 

" Dicite, quo porta clausa puella mea est ? " 
et dicam " Licet Artaciis * considat in oris, 

et licet Hylaeis, ilia futura mea est." 



VIII A 6 

Hic erat ! hie iurata manet ! rumpantur iiiiqui ! 

vicimus : assiduas non tulit ilia preces. 
falsa licet ciipidus deponat gaudia livor : 

(destitit ire novas Cynthia nostra vias. 30 

illi carus ego et per me carissima Roma 

dicitur, et sine me dulcia regna negat. 
ilia vel angusto mecum requiescere lecto 

et quocumque modomaluit esse mea, 
quam sibi dotatae regnum vetus Hippodamiae, 

et quas Elis opes ante pararat equis. 

1 ut Rothstein : et NAF. 

2 uteie codd. Par. 7989, Voss. 117 : ut te NAF. 

3 acerba i^'caligcr : verb.a NA P. 

* Artaciis Palmer : atraciis et similia 0. 

6 The MSS. mark no hrealc ; the separation is due to Lipsiui. 

22 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

afar, leaving me rooted on the shore, shaking clenched 
hands and crying out upon thy cruelty. 

17 Yet, faithless one, whate'er thou deserve of me, 
may Galatea smile upon thy path. Pass the Cerau- 
nian cliffs with prosperous oarage and may Oricos 
at last receive thee in its calm haven. For never 
shall the love of any maid lure me from uttering at 
thy threshold my bitter complaint against thee, light 
of my life ; nor will I cease to question the mariners 
as they hurry by : " Tell me in what port has my 
love found shelter?" and I will cry : "Though she 
abide on Artacia's shores, or where the Hylaei 
dwell, yet shall she be mine I " 



VIIIa 

She never went ! She has sworn and she remains ! 
Let those that wish me ill burst for envy 1 We have 
conquered ! She turned a deaf ear to his persistent 
prayer ! Now let their greedy jealousy lay aside its 
joy ! My Cynthia has ceased to tread new paths 
and strange. She loves me, and for my sake loves 
she Rome most of cities, and cries : " Apart from thee 
a kingdom were not sweet." She has preferred to He 
in my embrace, though the couch be poor and narrow, 
and to be mine, whate'er the cost, rather than enjoy 
the ancient rea'm that was Hippodamia's dower and 
all the wealth that Elis won by its steeds. . Great 



23 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
quamvis magna daret, quamvis maiora daturus, 

non tamen ilia meos fugit avara sinus, 
banc ego non auro, non Indis flectere conchis, 

sed potiii blandi carminis obsequio. 40 

sunt igitur Musae, neque amanli tardus Apollo, 

quis ego fretus amo : CjnLhia rara mea est ! 
nunc mihi summa licet contingere sidera plantis : 

sive dies seu nox venerit, ilia mea est ! 
nee mihi rivalis firmos^ subducit amores : 

jsta meam norit gloria canitiem. 

IX 

DiCEBAM tibi ventures, irrisor, amores, 

nee tibi perpetuo libera verba fore : 
ecce iaces supplexque venis ad iura puellae, 

et tibi nunc quaevis imperat empta modo. 
non me Chaoniae vincant in amore columbae 

dicere, quos iuvenes quaeque puella domet. 
me dolor et lacrimae merito fecere peritum : 

atque utinam posito dicar amore rudis I 
quid tibi nunc misero prodest grave dicere carmen 

aut Amphioniae moenia flere lyrae ? 10 

plus in amore valet Mimnermi versus Homero: 

carmina mansuetus levia quaerit Amor, 
i quaeso et Insteslstos compone libellos, 

et cane quod quaevis nosse puella velit I 
quid si non esset facilis tibi copia ? nunc tu 

insanus medio flumine quaeris aquani. 

1 firmos Bossberg : certos N : summo? AF. 
S4 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

though his gifts were and greater his promises, avarice 
could not tempt her from my bosom. Not by ^old 
nor by the pearls of Ind did I prevail to win her, 
but by the homage of beguiling song. The Muses 
then are maids of might and Apollo is not slow to 
aid a lover ; trusting in their help I pursue my love ; 
and peerless Cynthia is my own. Now is it mine to 
set my feet upon the higliest stars of heaven ; come 
night or day, she is mine own ; no rival now shall 
steal my love ; 'tis fixed and sure. The glory of 
to-day shall crown my head when white with eld. 



IX 

Mocker, I ever told thee love would find thee out 
and that thou shouldest not alvvay be free to speak 
thy thoughts. Lo ! now thou liest low, and goest 
suppliajit at a woman's will, and now some unknown 
girl, bought by thy gold but yesterday, lords it over 
thee. Not Chaonia's doves ^ could better divine 
than I what youths each maiden shall enslave. 
Sorrow and tears of mine own have given me a just 
claim to skill. Ah ! would tliat I could lay aside my 
love and once more be called a novice ! What now 
avails it, poor wretch, to chant thy serious song and to 
bewail the walls raised by Amphion's lyre ? Far more 
than Homer avails Mimnermus in the realm of love. 
Smooth ai*e the songs that peaceful love demands. 

13 Go to, prithee, and lay aside thy gloomy books 
and sing what every maid would wish to hear. What if 
thou hadst not easy access .'' Madman, thou seekest 
for water when plunged in love's mid-stream. Not 

1 The dove was the sacred bird of Dodcma, but the priestesses 
also were known as doves, and it maybe of them that Fropertius 
speaks. 

25 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 

necdum etiam p.illes, vero nee tanjreris igni : 

haec est venturi prima fa villa mali. 
turn magis Armenias cupies accedere tigres 

et magis infernae vincula nosse rotae, 20 

quam pueri totiens arcum senlire meduUis 

et nihil iratae posse negave tuae. 
nullus Amor cuiquam faciles ita praebuit alaSj 

ut non alt^rna jTi'esserit illc manu. 
nee te decipiat, quod sit satis ilia parata : 

acrius ilia subit, Pontice, si qua tua est, 
quippe ubi non liceat vacuos seducere ocellos, 

nee vigilare alio nomine cedat Amor : 
qui non ante patet, donee manus attigit ossa. 

quisquis es^ assiduas a fuge ^ blandilias ! SO 

illis et silices et possint cedere quercus, 

nedum tu possis. spixitJU.s iste levis. 
quare, si pudor est. tjuam })rimum errata latere : 

dicere quo pereas saepe in amore levat. 



O ivcvNDA quies, primo cum testis amor 
affueram vestris conscius in lacrimis I 

o noctem meminisse mihi iucunda vohiptas, 
o quotiens votis ilia vocanda meis, 

cum te complexa morientem, Galle, puella 
vidimus et longa ducere verba mora ! 

1 a fuge Bolt : aufiige NAF. 
26 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

even yet art thou pale, not yet art thou touched by 
love's true fire : 'tis but the first faint spark of the 
coming woe. Then hadst thou rather approach 
Armenian tigers^ or know the chains that bind unto 
the wheels of Hell, than feel so oft the arrows of 
the boy about thy heartstrings, and be powerless to 
refuse aught that thy angry mistress may demand. 
To none doth any Love grant freest flight, but ever 
curbs his wings with tantalising hand.^- Nor be thou 
deceived if she is wholly at thy command ; possess 
her, Ponticus, and straightway she steals with keener 
passion on thy soul. For then thou mayest not turn 
thine eyes where fancy guides; Love permits thee 
not to watch in any cause but hers, Love that lies 
hid until his hand hath pierced thee to the bone. 

30 Whoe'er thou art, flee from the charms that urge 
their suit. To them hard flints and heart of oak 
might yield ; much more must thou, frail breath of 
air that thou art. Wherefore if thou feelest aught 
of shame, at once confess thine error. Often in love 
'twill bring relief to tell what passion wastes thy 
soul. 



X 

O SWEET repose, when I was witness of your first 
hour of love, and stood by you as you wept together. 
Ah ! what sweet joy to recall that night to memory ! 
Ah ! night so oft to be invoked by my prayers, 
whereon I saw thee, Gallus, languish in thy mis- 
tress' arms, and speak love's words amid long-drawn 

' Lit., now with his right hand, now with his left 

27 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
quamvis labentes premeret niihi somnus ocellos 

et mediis caelo Luna ruberet equis, 
non tamen a vcstro potui secedere lusu : 

tantus in alteinis vocibus ardor erat. 10 

sed quoniam non es veritus concedere nobis, 

accipe commissae niunera laetitiae : 
non solum vestros didici reticere dolores, 

est quiddam in nobis maius^ amice, fide, 
possum ego diversos iterum coniungere amantes, 

et dominae tardas possum aperire fores ; 
et possum alterius curas sanare recentes, 

nee levis in verbis est medicina meis. 
Cynthia me docuit semper quaecumque petenda 

quaeque cavenda forent : non nihil egit Amor. 20 
tu cave ne tristi cupias pugnare puellae, 

neve superba loqui, neve tacere diu ; 
neu, si quid petiit, ingrata fronte negaris, 

neu tibi pro vano verba benigna cadant. 
irritata venit, quando coiitemnitur ilia, 

nee meminit iustas ponere laesa minas : 
at quo sis humilis magis et subiectus amori, 

hoc magis efFecto saepe fruare bono, 
is poterit felix una remanere puella, 

qui numquam vacuo pectore liber erit. 30 



28 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPEllTIUS BOOK I 

silences ! Though sleep weighed down my wearied 
eyes and the glowing moon drove her team in mid- 
heaven, yet could I not leave the sight of your tender 
dalliance, such passion rang in the words ye inter- 
changed. 

11 But since thou hast not feared to yield the secret 
of thy love to me, take thy reward for the joys thou 
didst confide. Not only have I learnt to say naught of 
your sorrows ; there is in me something yet better than 
loyal secrecy. I can join parted lovers, and unbar a 
mistress' reluctant doors ; I too can heal another's 
fresh-smarting griefs ; not slight is the remedy my 
words can bring. Cynthia has ever taught me what 
things each lover should seek, and what should shun. 
Love has wrought something for me. 

21 See that thou seek not to resist thy mistress 
when she frowns, nor to speak proudly nor be silent 
long ; nor, should she ask thee aught, do thou refuse 
it with frowning brow, nor let words of kindness 
fall on thy ears in vain. Spurn her and she comes in 
wrath to thee ; offend her, and she ne'er remembers 
to lay aside her just threats. But the more thou 
humblest thyself and yieldest to her love, the more 
oft thou shalt enjoy the crown of thy desires. He 
will be able to abide in the enjoyment of one mistress' 
love who never claims his freedom nor lets her image 
vanish from his heart. 



29 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER 1 

XI 

EcQviD te metliis cessantem, Cynthia, Bais, 

qua iacet ^erculeis semitj* litoribus, 
et modo Thesproti mirantem subdita regno 

et modo ^ Misenis aequora nolnlibus, 
nostri cura subit niemores a ! ducere ^ nocLes ? 

ecquis in extremo restat amore iocus ? 
an te nescio quis simulatis ignibus hostis 

sustulit e nostris, Cynthia, cai-minibus ? 
atque utinam mage te re mis confisa minutis 

parvula Lucrina cumba nioretur aqu;i, 10 

aut teneat clausam tenui Teuthrantis in uiida 

alternae facilis cedere 1} mpha manu, 
quam vacet alterius blandos aiidire susurros 

molliter in tacito litore compositam ! — 
ut solet amota labi custode puella 

perfida^ commiuies nee meminisse decs : 
non quia perspecta non es mihi cognita lama, 

sed quod in hac oninis parte timetur amor, 
ignosces igitur, si quid tibi triste libelli 

attulerint nostri : culpa timoris erit. 20 

nam ^ mihi non maior carae custodia matris, 

aut sine te vitae cura sit ulla meae. 
tu mihi sola domus, tu, Cynthia, sola parentes, 

omnia tu nostrae tempora laetitiae. 
seu tristis veniam sou contra laetus amicis 

quicquid ero, dicam "Cynthia causa fuit.' 

1 etmodoT: pi-oxima iV^i''. 2 a! ih^ceve ScuHjer : 

adducere NAF. 3 naui Keil : au NAF. 

30 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

XI 

Cynthia, while thou tak'st thine ease in Baiae's midst, 
where the causeway built by Hercules lies stretched 
along the shore, and now marvellest at the waves 
that wash Thesprotus' realm, now at those that 
spread hard by renowned Misenum, dost thou ever 
think that I, alas ! pass weary ni,i;hts haunted by 
memories of thee ? H ast thou room for me even in the 
outer borders of thy love ? Has some enemy with 
empty show of passion stolen thee away from thy 
place in my songs ? Would rather that some little 
boat, trusting in tiny oars, kept thee safe on the 
Lucrine lake, or that the waters yielding with 
ease to the swimmer's either hand held thee re- 
tired by the shallow waves of Teuthras, than that 
thou shouldst lifjten at ease to the fond murmurs 
of another as thou liest soft reclined on the 
silent strand ; for when there is none to watch her 
a maid will break her troth and go astray, remem- 
bering not the gods of mutual love. Not that I 
doubt thee, for I know that thy virtue is well tried, 
but at Baiae all love's advances give cause for fear 
Pardon me, therefore, if my books have brought tuee 
aught of bitterness ; lay all the blame upon my fear. 
For I watch not over my beloved mother more ten- 
derly than over thee, nor without thee M'ould life be 
worth a thought. 

23 Thou only, Cynthia, art my home, thou only 
my parents, thou art each moment of my joy. 
Be I gay or grave to the friends I meet, whate'er 
my mood, I will say : " Cynthia was the cause." Only 



31 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELRGIARVM LIBER I 

tu modo quam primum corruptas desere Baias : 

multis ista dabunt litora discidiuni, 
litora quae fuerant castis ipimica puellis : 

a pereant Baiae, crimen amoris, aquae ! 30 



XII 

QviD mihi desidiae non cessas fingere crimen, 

quod facial nobis, conscia Roma, moram ? 
tarn multa ilia meo divisa est milia lecto, 

quantum Hypanis Veneto dissidet Eridano ; 
nee mihi consuetos amplexu nutrit amores 

Cynthia, nee nostra dulcis in aure sonat. 
olim gratus eram : non illo tempore cuiquam 

contigit ut simili posset amare fide, 
invidiae fuimus : num ^ me deus obruit ? an quae 

lecta Pi-ometheis dividit herba iugis ? 10 

non sum ego qui fueram : mutat via longa puellas. 

quantus in exiguo tempore fugit amor ! 
nunc jn'imum longas solus cognoscere noctes 

cogor et ipse meis auribus esse gravis, 
felix, qui potuit praesenti flere puellae ; 

non nihil aspersis gaudet Amor lacriniis : 
aut si despectus potuit mutare calores, 

sunt quoque translato gaudia servitio, 
mi neque amare aliam neque ab hac desciscere^ fas est : 

Cynthia prima fuit, Cynthia finis erit. 20 

1 num r: non NAF. 

- desciscere i^einsws ; desistere i^" ; dissistere ^iV. 

32 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

do thou with all speed leave the lewd life of Baiae ; 
to many a loving pair shall those shores bring sever- 
ance, shores that liave aye proved ill for modest 
maids. Perish the Baian waters, that bring reproach 
on love 1 



XII 

Why, Rome, thou witness of my love, ceasest thou 
never to tax me falsely with sloth, saying 'tis sloth 
delays my suit ? She is parted from my bed by as 
many leagues as Hypanis is distant from Venetian 
Eridanus. No more does Cynthia feed my wonted 
love with her embraces, no longer does her name make 
music to my ear. Once I pleased her well : then there 
was none so happy as to love with such true return of 
devotion. But envy marked us down. Was it a god 
that overwhelmed me, or some magic herb gathered 
on Promethean hills for the sundering of lovers .^ 

11 I am not what I was. A distant journey can 
change a woman's heart I How mighty was that love, 
and in how brief a space 'tis fled ! Now for the first 
time am I forced to face the long, long hours of night 
alone and to vex mine own ears with my complaining. 
Happy the man who can weep before his mistress' 
eyes ; Love has great delight in flooding tears. Or 
if, once spurned, he hath had power to change his pas- 
sion, even in change of bondage is there joy. But I 
may never love another, nor part from her. Cynthia 
was the beginning, Cynthia shall be the end. 



33 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER 1 

XIII 

Tv, quod saej)e soles, nostro laetabere casu, 

Galle, quod abi-epto solus amore vacem. 
at non ipse tuas imitabor, perfide, voces : 

fallere te nuniquarOj Galle, puella velit. 
dum tibi deceptis augetur fama puellis, 

cei'tus et in nullo quaeris amore moram, 
perditus in quadam tardis pallescere cuiis 

incipis, et primo lapsus abire ^ gradu. 
haec erit illarum contempti poena doloris : 

multarum miseras exiget una vices. 10 

haec tibi vulgares istos compescet amores, 

nee nova quaerendo semper amicus eris. 
haec ego non rumore malo, non augure doclus; 

vidi ego : me quaeso teste negare potes ? 
vidi ego te toto vinctum languescere collo 

et Here iniectis, Galle, diu manibus, 
et cupere optatis animam deponere verbis, 

et quae deinde meus celat, amice, pudor. 
non ego complexus potui diducere vestros : 

tantus erat demens inter utrosque furor. 20 

non sic Haemonio Salmonida mixtus Enipeo 

Taenarius facili pressit amore deus, 
nee sic caelestem flagrans amor Herculis Heben 

sensit in Oetaeis gaudia prima iugis. 
una dies omnes potuit praecurrere amantes : 

nam tibi non tepidas subdidit ilia faces, 

1 abire T: adire NAP. 
34 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 



XIII 

Thou, Gallus, as thou oft art wont, wilt rejoice at my 
misfortunes, because my love has been snatched from 
me and I am left lonely and forlorn. But, faithless 
friend, I will never imitate thy taunts. May never 
fair one have the heart to play thee false. Even now 
while thy fame for the loves thou hast beguiled 
increases ever, and self-possessed thou cleavest ne'er 
for long to one passion, even now late in time 
thou beginnest to pale with woe, love-frenzied for 
one girl, and to retire baffled at the first step of 
thy advance. This shall be thy punishment for thy 
scorn of their sorrows ; one girl shall avenge the 
wrongs of many, she shall stay thy ranging loves, 
nor shall thy search for novelty always win thee a 
welcome. 

" No spiteful rumour, no soothsayer tells me this ; 
I saw thy love — darest thou deny the truth to me 
whose eyes were witness .'' I saw thee languish with 
her arms fast about thy neck, I saw thee weep lapped in 
a long embrace, and yearn to breathe forth thy soul in 
the words of desire ; and last, my friend, I saw, what 
shame bids me hide. I could not part your embraces, 
such a wild frenzy bound you each to each. Not with 
such passion did the Taenarian god, made one with 
Haemonian Enipeus,^ embrace Salmoneus' child, the 
willing victim of his love. Hercules burned not with 
such love for divine Hebe, when on Oeta's heights he 
tasted the first joys of godhead. One day surpassed 
the joys of all past lovers ; for no faint torch she 
kindled in thy veins. She suffered not thine old 

1 I.e., assuming the form of Haemonian Enipeus. 

35 



SKXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LUiER I 
nee libi jiraeteritos passa est succedere fastus, 

nee sinet abduci : te tuus ardor aget. 
iiec inirum, cum sit love digna et proxima Ledae 

et Ledae partu gratior, una tribus ; 30 

ilia sit Inachiis et blandior heroinis, 

ilia suis verbis cogat amare lovem. 
tu vero quoniam semel es pevituius amore, 

utere : non alio limine dignus eras, 
quae tibi sit felix, quoniam novus incidit error; 

et quodcumque ^ voles, una sit ista tibi. 

XIV 
Tv licet abiectus Tiberina molliter unda 

Lesbia Mentoreo vina bibas opere, 
et modo tarn celeres mireris currere lintres 

et modo tarn tardas funibus ire rates ; 
et nemus omne satas intendat vertice silvas, 

urgetur quantis Caucasus arboribus ; 
non tamen ista meo valeant contendere amori . 

nescit Amor magnis cedere divitiis. 
nam sive optatam mecum trahit ilia quietem, 

seu facili totum ducit amore diem, 10 

turn mihi Pactoli veniunt sub tecta liquores, 

et legitur Riibris gemma sub aequoribus ; . 
turn u)ihi cessuros spondent mea gaudia reges : 

quae maneant, dum me fata perire volent ' 
nam quis divitiis adverso gaudet Amore ? 

nulla mihi tristi praeniia sint Venere ! 

1 quodcumque Volscus : quocunque .V.4i''. 
36 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

pride to come o'er thee jnce again, nor will she let 
thee be taken from h«i". . Thy passion shall drive thee 
on and always on. 

29 Nor can I marvel since she is worthy Jove, sur- 
passed by Leda only, and fairer herself alone than all 
three children of Leda. More winsome would she 
prove than all Inachia's queens ; by her sweet words 
would she force even Jove to love her. Since then in 
truth thou art doomed once and for all to die of love, 
use thy chance : thou wert worthy to besiege no other 
doors than hers. Since madness to which thou art a 
stranger has seized thee, maj she be kind ; and may 
she and she alone be all thy heart's depire. 

XIV 

Though reclining idly by Tiber's wave thou quafFest 
Lesbian wine from cups chased by the hand of Mentor, 
and marvellest now how swiftly the boats run by 
and noAV how slowly the towed barges go : though all 
the woodland round thee spreads its growth of trees 
along the hill-crest, huge as the forest that weighs 
upon slopes of Caucasus, yet all these things could 
not vie with my love ; Love will not yield to all the 
might of wealth. 

9 For if Cvnthia lies with me bv night in long- 
desired rest, or spends the day in kindly love, then the 
waters of Pactolus bring their wealth beneath my roof, 
and the Red Sea's gems are gathered for my delight ; 
then does my joy assure me that kings must yield to 
me. And may these joys abide wdth me till Fate decrees 
my death. For who may have joy of Avealth if Love 
be not kind ? Ne'er be the prize of riches mine if 
Venus frown ! She can bow down the puissant might 



37 



SEXTI PROPERTI EL'XxIARVM LIBER I 

ilia potest mag^nas heroum irfringere vires, 

ilia etiam duris meiitibus essv. dolor : 
ilia neque Arabium metuit transceti'^.ere limen 

nee timet ostrino, Tulle, subire tore 20 

et miserum toto iuvenem versare cubili : 

quid relevant variis serica textilibus? 
quae niilii dum placata aderifc, non uUa verebor 

regna vel Alciiioi munera despicere. 



XV 

Saepe ego multa tuae levitatis dura timebam, 

hac tamen excepta, Cynthia, perfidia. 
aspice me quanto rapiat fortuna periclo ! 

tu tamen in nostro lenta timore venis ; 
et potes hesternos manibus componere crines 

et longa faciem quaerere desidia, 
nee minus Eois pectus variare lapillis, 

ut formosa novo quae parat ire viro. 
at non sic Ithaci digressu mota Calypso 

desertis olim fleverat aequoribus : 10 

multos ilia dies incomptis maesta capillis 

sederat, iniusto multa locuta salo, 
et quamvis nuniquam post haec visura, dolebat 

ilia tamen, longae conscia laetitiae. 
nee sic Aesoniden rapientibus anxia ventis 17 

Hypsipyle vacuo constitit in thalamo : 18 

Hypsipyle nullos post illos sensit amores, 19 

ut semel Haemonio tabuit hospitio. 20 

38 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

of heroes, she can bring sorrow to the hardest heart. 
She fears not to o'erpass the threshold of Arabian 
onyx, she shrinks not, Tullus, to climb into the purple 
couch, and toss the hapless youth in unrest o'er all 
In's bed. What avail the silken hangings with their 
weft of varied hue? Ah ! while she is kind and aids 
me in my love I will not fear to scorn the realms 
of any monarch, nor gifts such as Alcinous might 
give. 



W 

Oft have I dreaded much hardship from thy fickle- 
ness, yet never, Cynthia, treachery such as this. 
See into what perils fortune plunges me ! Yet still 
thou art slow to succour my disti-ess, and hast the 
heart to raise thine hands to array the yesternight's 
disorder of thy tresses, to adorn thy face with linger- 
ing care, and all unmoved to bestar thy breast with 
Eastern gems, like some fair maid that goes to meet 
her bridegroom. 

^ Not so was Calypso moved when the Ithacan left 
her and she wept of yore to the lonely waste of 
waves : many a long day she sat moaning his loss, 
her locks unkempt, and many a plaint she uttered to 
the cruel sea : and though she never more should see 
his face, she grieved remembering their long hours 
of happiness. Not so as the breeze bore afar the 
son of Aeson did Hypsipyle stand sorrow-laden in 
the empty nuptial chamber ; Hypsipyle tasted of 
love no more, since once she pined ibr her lost 
Haemonian guest. Alphesiboea took vengeance on 

ay 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
Alphesiboea suos ulta est pro coniiige fratres \5 

sanguinis et cari vincula rupit amor.^ l6 

coniugis Euadne miseros data per ignes 21 

occidit, Argivae fama pudicitiae. 
quarum nulla tuos potuit convevtere moreSj 

tu quoque uti fieres nobilis historia. 
desine iam revocare tuis periuria verbis^ 

Cynthia, et oblitos parce movere deos; 
audax a nimium nostro dolitura periclo, 

si quid forte tibi durius incident ! 
multa prius : ^ vasto labentur flumina ponto, 

annus et inversas duxerit ante vices, 30 

quana tua sub nostro mutetur pectore cura : 

sis quodcumque voles, non aliena tamen. 
tarn tibi ^ ne viles isti videantur ocelli, 

per quos saepe mihi credita perfidia est ! 
hos tu iurabas, si quid mentita fuisses, 

ut tibi suppositis exciderent manibus : 
et contra magnum potes hos attollere solem, 

nee tremis admissae conscia nequitiae ? 
quis te cogebat multos pallere colores 

et fletum invitis ducere luminibus ? 40 

quis ego nunc pereo, similes moniturus amantes 

" O nuUis tutum credere blanditiis ! " 

1 15, 16, Markland's transposition. 

2 I (jive Rothstein's 'punctuation. Without it multa must be 
altered to alta or the like. 

3 tarn tibi Palmer : quam tibi JS'AF. 



40 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

her own brothers for her husband's sake, and love 
brake the bonds of kindred blood. Evadne, glory of 
Argive chastity, perished in the fatal flame and shared 
her husband's pyre. 

2" Yet none of these has prevailed on thee to change 
th}'^ fashion of life, that thou too might'st become a 
glorious memory. Cease at length by thy words to 
recall thy past faithlessness, nor provoke the gods 
thou hast so long forgotten. Rash girl, ah ! deep, 
too deep will be thy sorrow for my peril, if aught 
of woe chance to fall on thee. Ere that shall many 
marvels be : rivers shall flow upward from the wild 
sea, and the year reverse its seasons, ere my love 
for thee shall alter in my breast : be what thou wilt, 
yet not anotlier's own. Let not those eyes of thine 
seem of so little worth to thee, those eyes that oft 
made me believe thy falsehoods true ! By them 
thou swarest, praying that if in aught thou hadst 
played me false thine own hands might pluck them 
ibrth. And canst thou raise them to tlie mighty 
sun and tremble not when thou rememberest thy 
guilty wantonings .^ Who made thee pale with many 
a shifting hue, and forced thine eyes to weep un- 
willing tears .'' — those eyes for whose sake I die Avith 
passion, thus to warn lovers in like plight to mine, 
" There's never witchery of woman that man may 
safely trust." 



41 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 



XVI 

QvAE fueram magnis olim patefacta triumphis, 

ianua Tarpeiae nota pudicitiae; 
cuius inaurali celcbrarunt limina cuirus, 

captorum lacrimis umida supplicibus; 
nunc ego, nocturnis potorum saucia rixis, 

pulsata indignis saepe queror manibus, 
et mihi non desunt turpes pendere corollae 

semper et exclusis signa iacere faces, 
nee possum infamis dominae defendere noctes 

nobilis obscenis tradita carminibus ; 10 

nee tamen ilia 'suae revocatijr parcere famae 

turpior et saecli vivere luxuria. 
has inter gravius cogor deflere querelas/ 

siipj>licis a longis tristior excubiis. 
ille meos numquam patitur requiescere postes, 

arguta referens carmina blanditia : 
" Ianua vel domina penitus crudelior ipsa, 

quid mihi iam duris clausa taces foribus ? 
cur numquam reserata meos admittis amoves, 

nescia furtivas reddere mota preces ? 20 

nullane finis erit nostro concessa dolori, 

turpis et in tepido limine somnus erit ? 
me mediae noctes, me sidera prona ^ iacentem, 

frigidaque Eoo me dolet aura gelu : 

1 giMvius . . . querelas Scalujer : gravibus . . . querelis 
NAF. 2 prona r: plena iVMii". 

42 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 



XVI 

I THAT of old was flung wide to welcome mighty 
triumphs, Tai-peia's portal glorified by her chastity, 
whose threshold gilded chariots once made renowned 
and the suppliant tears of captives once bedewed, I 
to-day am bruised by the nightly brawls of drunkards, 
and smitten by uuAvorthy hands make moan. Dis- 
honouring wreaths fail not to hang by me, and ever 
nigh me lie torches that tell their tale to lovers shut 
out from bliss. 

^ Yet cannot I save my mistress from her nights of 
shame, but, once so noble, am now the prey of ribald 
rhymes. Nor yet is she moved to repent and have 
pity on her fair fame, and to cease from living more 
vilely than the vileness of a wanton age. And even 
while thus I make my moan, yet bitterer tears are 
mine to weep, as the long watches of the suppliant 
lover deepen my woe. He suffers never my pillars 
to have peace, with shrill blandishment chanting this 
refrain : 

1^ "Door yet more deeply cruel than even my 
mistress' heart, why are thy grim portals ever closed 
and mute for me ? Why never dost thou unbar and 
give entrance to my love, thou that knowest not to 
relent and bear my secret prayers to my mistress ? Wilt 
thou never grant an ending to my woes ? And must a 
doleful sleep be mine on thy chill threshold } For me 
the midnight and the stars thafturn to their setting 
and the breeze laden with chill frost of dawn grieve 
as they behold me prostrate. Thou alone pitiest 



43 



SEXTI PROPERTI EEEGIARVM LIBER I 

tu sola hiimanos numquam miserata dolores 

respondes tacitis mutua cardinibus. ^ 
o utinam traiecta cava mea vocula rima' 

percussas dcminae vertat in auriculas ! 
sit silice ^ et saxo patientior ilia Sicano, 

sit licet et ferro durior et chalybe, 3f 

non tamen ilia suos poterit compescere ocellos, 

surget et invitis spiritus in lacrimis. 
nunc iacet alterius felici nixa lacerto, 

a.t inea noctiirno verba cadunt Zephyro. 
sed tu sola mei, tu maxima causa doloris, 

victa meis numquam, ianua, muneribus. 
te non uUa meae laesit ])etulantia linguae, 

quae solet irato dicere pota ioco,^ 
ut me tarn longa raucum patlare querela 

soUicitas trivio pervigilare moras. 40 

at tibi saepe novo deduxi carmina versu, 

osculaque impressis nixa dedi gradibus. 
ante tuos quotiens verti me, perfida, postes, 

debitaque occultis vota tuli manibus ' * 
haec ille et si quae miseri novistis amantes, 

et matutinis obstrepit alitibus. 
sic ego nunc dominae vitiis et semper amantis 

fletibus aeterna differor invidia. 

1 silice cod. Voss. SI: Wcei NAP. 

2 pota ioco lleinsius : tola loco NAF. 



44 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

never the agony of the lieart of men ; thy hinges are 
silent, and thou answerest naught. Would that some 
whisper of my voice might pass through some hollow 
rift in thee, and fall upon my mistress' startled ear! 
Then were she more stubborn than flint or Etna's 
crags, more cruel than iron or steel, yet will she not 
have power to control her eyes, and mid unAvilling 
tears a sigh shall rise. 

33 c( Now she lies propped on another's happy arm 
and my words fall idly on the breezes of the night. 
But thou art the sole, the chiefest cause of my 
grief, unvanquished ever by the gifts I bring. My 
tongue hath never assailed thee with angry drunken 
jest, so dear to fioward anger, that thou shouldst 
suffer me to grow hoarse with long complaining 
and watch all night at the crossways in anguished 
waiting. But oft for thee have I spun new strains 
of song and bowed me to print clinging kisses on 
thy steps. How oft have 1 turned my back upon 
thy pillars and with furtive hands bestowed the 
votive gifts that were thy due." 

*5 So cries he with aught else that ye, hapless 
lovers, have learned to cry, and outclamours the 
birds of dawn. So by my mistress' vices and her 
lover's tears am I for aye defamed with ever-during 
scorn. 



i5 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 



XVII 

Et merito, quoniam potui fugisse puellam 1 

nunc ego deseitas alloquor alcyonas. 
nee mihi Cassiope solito visura cariiiam, 

omniaque ingrato litore vota cadiint. 
quin etiam absenti prosunt tibi, Cynthia, vcnti : 

aspice, quam saevas increpat aura minas. 
nullane placatae veniet fortuna procellae ? ) 

haecine parva meum funus harena teget? 
tu tamen in melius saevas converte querelas: 

sat tibi sit poenae nox et iniqua vada. 10 

an poteris siccis mea fata reposcere ^ ocellis, 

ossaqiie nulla tuo nostra tenere sinu ? 
a pereat, quicumque rates et vela paravit 

primus et invito gurgite fecit iter ! 
nonne fuit levius dominae pcrvincere mores 

(quamvis dura, tamen rara puella fuit), 
quam sic ignotis circumdata litora silvis 

cernere et optatos quaerere Tyndaridas ? 
illic si qua meum sepelis£.ent fata dolorem, 

ultinms et posito staret amore lapis, 20 

ilia meo cai'os donasset funere crines, 

molliter et tenera poneret ossa rosa ; 
ilia meum extremo clamasset pulvere nomen, 

ut mihi non ullo pondere terra foret. 
at vos, aequoreae formosa Doride natae, 

Candida fel_ici solvite vela chor.0 : 
si quando vestras labcns Amor attigit undas, 

mansuetis socio parcite litoribus. 

I repo?cere Bachrens : leponere NA F. 
46 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 



XVII 

Deservedly, since I have iiad the heart to fly from 
my mistress, do I now cry to the lonely sea-mews, 
nor shall Cassiope give her wonted welcome to my 
bark, and all my prayers fall idly on a heartless 
shore. Nay, more, though thou art far away the 
winds but aid thy cruelty : lo ! what fierce threats 
the gale howls in my ear ! Will Fortune never 
come to still the tempest? Shall yonder scanty 
sands hide my bones ? 

^ Yet do thou but change thy savage complaints 
to kinder tones; let the dark night and threatening 
shoals be in thine eyes enough punishment for me. 
Wilt have the heart dry-eyed to demand my death 
and ne'er to hold mine ashes to thy bosom ? Perish 
the man, whoe'er he was, that first devised ships 
and sails, and first voyaged over the unwilling deep ! 
Easier task had it been to overcome my mistress' heart, 
— cruel was she, yet peerless among women ! — than 
thus to gaze on shores fringed with unknown forests 
and seek in vain for the desired sons of Tyndareus. 

1^ If some doom had buried all my grief at home,'' 
if there my love had ended and at the last the head- 
stone marked its close, then would she have cast those 
locks I loved so well upon my pyre, and have laid 
my bones on a soft couch of delicate rose-leaves : she 
would have cried my name aloud over my last ashes, 
praying that earth might lie light upon me, 

2^ But do ye, O sea-born daughters of lovely 
Doris, give prosperous escort and unfurl our white 
sails : if ever love has glided down and touched your 
waves, spare a fellow-bondsman and guide him to a 
kindly shore. 

47 



SEXTI PROPErai ELEGIARVM LIBER I 

XVI II 

Makc certe descita loca et taciturna querenti, j 

et vacuuni Zephyri possidet auvaaiemus* 
hie licet (pccultos proferre impune dolores, 

si modo sola queant saxa teiiere fidem. 
unde tuos primum.repelam, iiiea Cynthia^ fastus? ) 

quod milii das flciuli, Cynthia, principiura ? 
qui motlo felices inter numerabar amantes, i- 

nunc in amore tuo cogor liabere notam. > » 
quid tantum merui ? quae te mihi carmina mutant? 

an nova tristitiae causa puella tuae ? 10 

sic mihi te referas, levis, ut non altera nostro 

limine formosos intulit ulla pedes, 
quamvis multa tibi dolor hie meus aspera debet, 

non ita saeva tamen venerit iia mea 
.ut tibi sim merito semper furor, et tua flendo 
/■iumina deiectis turpia sint lacrimis. 
an quia parva damns mutato signa colore ? 

et non ulla meo clamat in ore fides ? 
vos eritis testes, si quos habet arbor amores, 

fagus et Arcadio pinus arnica deo. 20 

a quotiens teneras resonant mea verba sub umbras, 

scribitur et vestris Cynthia corticibus I 
a ! tua quot ^ peperit nobis iniuria curas, 

quae solum tacitis cognita sunt foril>us ? 
onmia consuevi timidus perferre superbae 
iussa neque arguto facta dolore queri. 

I a ! tua quot S" : an tua quod XAF. 
4b 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 1 

XVIII 

Here of a truth is a lonely and a silent place, wheie 
I may malic my moan, and the breath of" the West 
Wind only rules this deserted grove. Here may I 
freely utter my secret griefs, if only these lone crags 
can keep faith. 

^ From what first beginning, Cynthia, shall I trace 
thy scorn ? What was the first cause for tears thou 
gavest me ? I that but a short while since was 
counted among happy lovers, am now perforce an 
outcast from thy love. What woe such as this have 
I deserved.'' what spells alter thy love for me.'' Is 
jealousy of some new rival the cause of thine anger ? 
So surely mayst thou return to my embrace, fickle 
maid, as no other woman has ever planted her fair 
feet within my threshold. Though my grief owes 
thee much bitterness, yet never sliall my wrath fall 
so fierce upon thee, that I should always give thee 
just cause for fury and thine^eyes be maired with 
streaming tears. 

^^ Or is it that I give scant proof of my passion by 
changing colour, and that no token of my faith cries 
aloud upon my countenance? Ye shall be my wit- 
nesses, if trees know aught of love, beech-tree and 
pine, beloved of Arcady's god. Ah ! how oft do my 
passionate words echo beneath your delicate shades, 
how oft is Cynthia's name carved upon your bark ! 

2^ Ah 1 how oft has l.hv injustice begotten troubles 
in my heart, that only thy silent portal knows ! I 
have been wont to bear thy haughty commands with 
patience, nor ever to bemoan my grief in piercing 
accents of sorrow. Yet in return for this, ye founts 



49 



SEXTI PROPERTl ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
pro quo divini ^ fontes et frigida i-u^s 

et datur inculto tramite dura quies ; 
et quodcumque meae possunt narrare querelae, 

coffor ad arffutas dicere solus aves. SO 

(^i^d qualisciimque es f«sonent mihi " Cynthia " silvae, 

nee deserta tuo nomine saxa yacent. 

XIX 

NoN ego nunc tristes vereor, mea Cynthia, Manes, 

nee moror extremo debita fata rogo ; 
sed ne forte tuo careat mihi funus amore, 

hie timor est ipsis durior exsequiis. 
non adeo leviter noster puer haesit ocellis, 

ut meus oblito pulvis amore vacet. 
illic Phylacides iucundae coniugis heros 

non potuit caecis immemor esse locis, 
sed cupidus falsis attingere gaudia pahiiis 

Thessalus antiquum venerat umbra domum. 10 

illic quidquid ero, semper tua dicar imago : 

traicit et fati litora magnus amor, 
illic formosae veniant chorus heroinae, 

quas dedit Argivis Dardana praeda viris; 
quarum nulla tua fuerit mihi, Cynthia, forma 

gratior, et (Tell us hoc ita iusta sinat) 
quamvis te longae remorentur fjita senectae^ 

cara tamen lacrimis ossa futura meir,. 
quae tu viva mea possis sentire favilla ! 

tum mihi non ullo mors sit amara loco. 20 

1 Diviui probably corrupt, di 1 nivei Lachnuinn. 
50 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

divine, lo ! this chill couch of rock is mine and 
broken slumbers on this rugged track : and all that 
my plaintive cries can tell must be uttered in this 
waste place to shrill-voiced birds. 

^1 But be what thou wilt, still let the woods re-echo 
" Cynthia/' nor these lone crags have rest from the 
sound of thy name 

XIX 

No more now, my Cynthia, fear I the sad woi'ld of 
death ; I care not for the doom that at the last must 
feed the fires of funeral ; this fear alone is bitterer 
than death itself, that I should go down to the grave 
unloved by thee. Not with such light touch has 
Love cleaved to mine eyes that my dust should 
forget thee and lie loveless. Even in the dark 
underworld the hero son of Phylacus could not for- 
get his sweet wife, but, yearning to enfold his dear 
one with phantom hands, the Thessalian returned in 
ghostly wise to his ancient home. There, whatsoe'er 
I be, as Cynthia's lover shall my shade be known ; 
strong love o'erpasses even the shores of doom. 
There let the fair queens of old, whom the spoils of 
Troy gave to Argive husbands, come in a troop to 
greet me ! Yet the beauty of none of these shall 
please me more than thine, and though the doom of 
old age delay thy coming long — may earth be kind 
and grant this boon ! — yet shall the sight of thine 
ashes be dear to my weeping eyes: and like love 
long mayst thou that livest feel, when I am dust ; 
then wheresoe'er death find me, it shall have lost its 



51 



SEXTI PROPKRTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
quain vereor, ne te contenipto, Cj'nthia, busto 

abstrahat ei ! ^ nostro pulvere iniquus Amor, 
cogat et invitam lacrimas siccare cadentes ! 

flectitur assiduis certa puella minis, 
quare, dum licet, inter nos laetemur ainantes : 

non satis est ullo temuore longus amor. 



XX 

Hoc pro continuote, Galle, monemus amore,, 

(id tibi ue vacuo defluat ex animo) 
saepe imprudenti fortuna occurrit amaiiti : 

crudelis Minyis jlixerit Ascanius. 
est tibi non infra speciemj non nomine dispar, 

Theiodamanteo proximus ardor Hylae : 
hmic tu, sive leges Vmbrae sacra ^ flumina silvae, 

sive Aniena tuos tinxerit unda pedes, 
sive Gigantea spatiabere litoris ora, 

sive ubicumque vago fluminis hospitio, 10 

Nyinpharum semper cupidas defende rapinas 

(non minor Ausoniis est amor Adryasin ^) ; 
ne tibi sit duros * montes et frigida saxa, 

Galle, neque experto ^ semper adire lacus : 
quae miser ignotis error perpessus in oris 

Herculis indomito fleverat Ascanio. 

1 cL Aldiiia 1515 : e JVAF. 

2 Vmbrae sacra Iloeufft : umbrosae XAF. 

3 Adryasin ^'irwrtMS ; Hciriacis iV^li^. 

4 sit duros Lipsius : slut duri XAF. 
6 experto Zdvincius : expertos iVjJi'. 

52 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

sting. Yet, Cynthia, I have a fear that thou mayst 
spurn my tomb, and some cruel passion part thee 
from my dust, and force thee, though loth, to dry 
thy falling tears. Continued threats may bend the 
will even of a loyal maid. Wherefore, while yet 
maybe, let us love and be merry together. Eternity 
itself is all too brief for love. 



XX 

Take this my warning, Callus, in return for thine 
unfailing love : let it not slip from thy tjioughtless 
mind : " Fortune oft proves adverse to the heedless 
lover"; so might Ascanius tell thee, that wreaked > 
his spite upon the Minyae. ^-«— —^ 

^ Thou hast a love most like to Hylas, child 
of Theodamas, one not less fair nor of humbler 
birth. Beware then, whether thou wanderest by the 
holy streams of Umbrian forests, or Anio's waters 
lave thy feet, or walk'st thou on the marge of the 
Giant's strand, or wheresoe'er a river's wandering 
waters welcome thee, beware and from thy love ward 
off the hands of nymphs that burn to steal (the 
Ausonian Dryads love as warmly as their sisters 
loved), lest it be thy fate ever to visit cruel mountain 
and icy crag and lakes, that thou hast tried to thy cost. 
Such woes the ill-starred wanderer Hercules suffered 
in a far land and bewailed by the shores of the 
relentless Ascanius. For they say that of old Argos 



68 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
namque ferunt olim PagasaejiasaUb'.'^ Argon 

egressum ^ longe Phasidos isse viamj 
et iam j)raeteritis labentem Athamantidos undis 

Mysorum scopulis applicuisse ratem. 20 

hie manus heroum^ placidis ut constitit oris, 

mollia composita litora fronde tegit. 
at comes invicti iuvenis processerat ultra 

raram .sepos[ti q uaerere fontis aquam. 
hunc duo sectati fratres, Aquilonia proles, 

hunc super et Zetes, hunc super et Calais, 
oscula suspensis instabant carpei'e palmis, 

oscula et alterna ferre supina fuga. 
ille sub extrema pendens secluditur ala 

et voluci'es ramo summovet insidias. SO 

iam Pandioniae cessit ^ genus Orithyiae: 

a dolor ! ibat HylaSj ibat Hamadryasin. 
hie erat Arganthi Pege sub vertice montis 

grata domus Nymphis lunida Thyniasin, 
quam supra nullae pendebant debita curae 

r'>scida desei'tis poma sub arboribus, 
et circum irriguo surgebant lilia prato 

Candida purpureis mixta papaveribus. 
quae modo decerpens tenero pueriliter ungui 

proposito florem praetulit officio, 40 

et modo formosis incumbens nescius undis 

errorem blandis tardat imaginibus. 
tandem haurire parat demissis flumina palmis 

innixus dextro plena trahens umero. 

1 egressum Ellis: egressam NAP. 

2 cessit 5": cesset NAP : cessat r. 

54 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 1 

set sail from the dockyards of Pagasa and went forth 
on the long way to Phasis, and at last, the waves of 
Helle past, moored his bark pn Mysia's rockbotind 
coast. Here the band of heroes went forth upon the 
peaceful shore and carpeted the ground with a soft 
coverlet of leaves. But the comrade of the young 
unvanquished hero ranged afar to seek the scarce 
waters of some distant spring. Him the two brothers 
followed, Zetes and Calais, the North Wind's sons, 
and, bowing o'er him, both pressed on to embrace 
him with hovering hands and snatcli a kiss and bear 
it from his upturned face, each as in turn they fled. 
But the boy, swept off his feet, hides clinging to one 
by his pinion's base, and with a branch wards off 
the otlier's winged wiles. At last the children of 
Orithyia, Pandion's daughter, retired discomfited, 
and Hylas, alas ! went ujion his way, went to be 
the wood-nymphs' prey. 

33 Here beneath the peak of Arganthus' mount 
lay the well of Pege, the watery haunt so dear to 
Bithynia's nymphs, o'er which from lonely trees 
there hung dewy apples that owed naught to the 
iiand of man, and round about in a water-meadow 
sprang snowy lilies mingled with purple poppies. 
And there, in boyish delight, he gently plucked them 
with soft finger-tips, preferring the flowers to his 
chosen task ; and now in artless wonder bent over the 
fair waters and prolonged his truancy with gazing at 
their mirrored charms. At length he made ready to 
stretch forth his hands to the waves and draw water 
therefrom, leaning on his right shoulder and raising 
a plenteous draught. But, smitten with passion at 



5.5 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 
cuius ut accensae Drvacles candore puellae 

miratae solitos destituere chores, 
prolapsum leviter facili traxere liquore : 

turn sonitum rapto corpore fecit Hylas ; 
cui procul Alcides iterat responsa, sed illi 

nomen ab extremis funtibus aui'a refert. 50 

his, o Galle, tuos monitus servabis amores, 

formosum Nymphis credere visus Hylan. 



XXI 

"Tv, qui coiisortem properas evadere casum, 

miles ab Etruscis saucius aggeribus, 
quid nostro gemitu turgentia lumina torques ? 

pars ego sum vestrae proxima militiae. 
sic te servato, ut possint gaudere parentes, 

ne sorer acta tuis sentiat e lacrimis : 
Galium per medios ereptum Caesaris enses 

effugere ignotas nou potuisse manus ; 
et quaecumque ^ super dispersa invenerit ossa 

montibus Etruscis, nesciat ^ esse men." 10 

1 qiiaecunque XAF : quicunque iT. 

2 nesciat Phillimore : haec sciat NAP, 



56 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 

the sight of that snowy shoulder, the Hamadryads 
in wonder ceased their wonted dance. Easily from 
where he lay reclined they dragged him through the 
yielding flood. Then Hylas as they seized his body 
uttered a cry, whereto in answer Alcides shouted 
again, again, and yet again ; but the breezes bore him 
back from the fountain's edge naught save the echo 
of the name. 

^^ Warned by this tale, my Gallus, thou shalt keep 
thy love secure, thou that aforetime didst seem to 
entrust thy Hylas to the nymphs. 



XXI 

" Soldier, that hastenest to escape thy comrades 
doom, flying wounded from the Etruscan ramparts,^ 
and turnest thy swollen eyes at the sound of my moan- 
ing, I am one of thy nearest comrades in arms. So save 
thyself, that thy_joarents may rejoice over thy safety, \*^ \ 
nor thy sister learn my fate from the silent witness 
of thy tears ; how Gallus, though he escaped through 
the midst of Caesar's swordsmen, yet could not escape 
the hand of some unknown spoiler ; and whatever 
bones she may find scattered on the mountains of 
Tuscanv, let her not know them to be mine." 

I /.e. , of Terusia. See Index, s. v. Perusiuus. 



57 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER I 

XXII 

QvALis et unde genus, qui sint mihi, Tulle, Penates, 

quaeris pi'o nostra semper amicitia. 
si Perusina tibi patriae sunt nota se^ulcra, 

Italiae duris funera temporibus, 
cum Romaiia suos egit discordia civis ; ' 

(sic, mihi praecipue, pulvis Etrusca, dolor, 
tu proiecta mei perpeKSH es membra proi)inqui, 

tu nullo miseri contegis ossa solo) 
proxima supposito contingens V'mbria canipo 

me genuit terris fertilis ubei'bus. 10 



58 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK I 



XXII 

TuLLuSj thou askest ever in our friendship's name^ 
what is my rank, whence my descent, and where 
my home. If thou knowest our country's graves at 
Perusia, the scene of death in the dark hours of 
Italy, when civil discord maddened the citizens 
of Rome (hence, dust of Tuscany, art thou my 
bitterest sorrow, for thou hast borne the limbs 
of my comrade that were cast out unburied, thou 
shroudest his ill-starred corpse with never a dole of 
earth), know then that where Umbria, rich in feVtile 
lands, joins the wide plain that lies below, there 
was I born. 



59 



BOOK II 



LIBER SECVNDVS 
I 

QvAERiTis, unde mihi totiens scribantur amores, 

unde meus veniat mollis in ore liber, 
non haec Calliope, non haec mihi cantat Apollo, 

ingenium nobis ipsa puella facit. 
sive illam Cois fulgentem incedere cogis, 

hoc totum e Coa veste volumen erit ; 
seu vidi ad fi'ontem sparsos errare capillos, 

gaudet laudatis ire superba comis ; 
sive lyrae carmen digitis percussit eburnis, 

miramur, faciles ut premat arte manus ; 10 

seu cum poscentes somnum declinat ocellos, 

invenio causas mille poeta novas ; 
seu nuda erepto mecum luctatur amictu, 

turn vero longas condimus Iliadas ; 
sen quidquid fecit sive est quodcumque locuta, 

maxima de nihilo nascitur historia. 
quod mihi si tantum, Maecenas, fata dedissent, 

ut possem heroas ducere in arma manus, 
non ego Titanas canerem, non Ossan Olympo 

impositam, ut caeli Pelion esset iter, 20 

62 



THE SECOND BOOK 
I 

You ask me, from what source so oft I draw my songs 
of love and whence comes my book that sounds so 
soft upon the tongue. 'Tis not Calliope nor Apollo 
that singeth these things ; 'tis my mistress' self that 
makes my wit. If thou wilt have her walk radiant 
in silks of Cos, of Coan raiment all this mj book shall 
tell ; or have I seen her tresses stray dishevelled o'er 
her brow, I praise her locks and she walks abroad 
in pride and gladness ; or struck she forth music 
from the lyre with ivory fingers, I marvel with what 
easy skill she sweeps her hands along the strings ; or 
when she droops those eyes that call for sleep I find 
a thousand new themes for song ; or if, flinging away 
her robe, she enter naked with me in the lists, then, 
then I write whole Iliads long. Whate'er she does, 
whate'er she says, from a mere nothing springs a 
mighty tale. 

1'^ But if, Maecenas, the Fates had granted me 
power to lead the hosts of heroes into war, I would 
not sing the Titans, nor Ossa on Olympus piled, that 
Pelion might be a path to heaven. I'd sing not ancient 

63 



SEXTI PROPERTI ET-EGIARVM LIBER II 

nee veteres Thebas, nee Pergama nomen Homeri, 

Xerxis et imperio bina coisse vada, 
regnave prima Renii aut animos Carthaginis altae, 

Cimbrorumque minas et beiiefacla Mari : 
bellaque resque tui memorarem Caesaris, et tu 

Caesaie sub magno cura secunda fores, 
nam quotiens Miitinam aut civilia busta Pliilippos 

aut caiierem Siculae elassica bella fugae, 
eversosque focos antiquae gentis Etruscae, 

et Ptolomaeei litora capta Phari, 30 

aut canerem Aegyptum et Nilunij cum atralus ^ 
in urbem 

septem captivis debilis ibat aquis, 
aut regum auratis circumdata col la catenis^ 

Actiaque in Sacra currere rostra Via ; 
te niea Musa illis semper contexeret armis, 

et sumpta et posita pace fidele caput : 
< « • • 

Theseus infernis, superis testatur Achilles, 

hie Ixioniden, ille Menoetiaden. 
sed neque Phlegraeos lovis Enceladique tumultus 

intonet angusto pectore CaHimachus, 40 

nee mea conveniunt duro praecordia versu 

Caesaris in Phrygios condere nomen avos. 
navita de ventis, de tauris narrat arator, 

enumerat ^ miles vulnera, pastor oves ; 

1 atratus Bachrens : attractus iV ; attractatus P: tractus S". 

2 A couplet seems to have been lost, since something is needed 
to introduce the mythological parallels for the friendship of 
Ait{/iistus and Maecenas. 

3 eiiuuierat Ji^; et uumerat iV. 

64 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

Thebes nor Troy's citadel, that is Homer's glory, 
nor yet how at Xerxes' bidding sea met sundered 
sea, nor, again, would I chant the primeval realm 
of Remus or the fierce spirit of lofty Carthage, 
the Cimbrian's threats or the service wrought 
by Marias for the State. But I would tell of the 
wars and the deeds of thy master Caesar, and next 
after mighty Caesar my thoughts should turn on 
thee. For oft as I sang of Mutina or Philippi, where 
Romans lie by Romans slain, or of the sea-fight and 
the rout by the Sicilian shore, the ruined hearths of 
Etruria's ancient race, and the capture of the shore 
where Ptolemy's Pharos stands ; oft as I sang of 
Egypt and the Nile, what time in mourning garb he 
went humbly to Rome with his seven captive streams, 
or of the necks of kings bound about with chains of 
gold, and the prows of Actium speeding along the 
Sacred Way ; so oft would my Muse weave thy name 
into those deeds, true heart in peace or war. 

• • t • 

Theseus to the shades below, Achilles to the gods 
above, proclaim a comrade's love, the one of Ixion's 
child, the other of the son of Menoetius. 

2^ But neither would Callimachus' scant bi'eath avail 
to thunder forth the strife 'twixt Jove and Enceladus 
on Phlegra's plains, nor has my heart power in verse 
severe to trace the line of Caesar tohis Phrygian grand- 
sires. The sailor talks of winds, the ploughman of oxen, 
the soldier counts o'er his wounds, the shepherd his 

E 65 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

nos contra angusto versantes proelia lecto : 

qua pote quisque, in ea conterat arte diem, 
laus in amove mori : laus altera, si datur uno 

posse frui : friiar o solus amore meo ! 
si niemini, solet ilia leves culpare puellas, 

et totam ex Helena non probat Iliada. 50 

sen mihi sunt tangenda novercae pocula 
Phaedrae, 

pocula privigno non nocitura suo 
sen mihi Circaeo pereundum est gramine, sive 

Colchis lolciacis ^ urat aena focis, 
una meos quoniam praedata est femina sensuSj 

ex hac ducentur funera nostra domo. 
omnes humanos sanat medicina dolores : 

solus amor morbi non amat artificem. 
tarda Philoctetae sanavit crura Machaon, 

Phoenicis Chiron lumina Phillyrides, 60 

et dens exstinctum Cressis Epidaurius herbis 

restituit patriis Androgeoua focis, 
Mysus et Haemonia iuvenis qua cuspide vulnus 

senserat, hac ipsa cuspide sensit opem. 
hoc si quis vitium poterit mihi demere, solus 

Tantaleae - poterit tradere poma manu ; 
dolia virgineis idem ille repleverit urnis, 

ne tenera assidua colla graventur aqua ; 
idem Caucasia solvet dc rupe Promethci 

bracchia et a medio pectore pellet avein. 70 

1 lolciacis Scaliger : Colchiacis NAP. 

2 Tantaleae ^erooZdus ; Tantalea 3i^. 

66 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

sheepj while we for our part tell of lovers' wars upon 
a narrow couch ! Let each man pass his days in that 
wherein his skill is greatest. To die for love is glory ; 
and glory yet again to have power to joy in one love 
only; ah, may I, and I alone, joy in the love that's 
mine. If memory fails me not, she is wont to blame 
fickle-hearted maids, and on account of Helen frowns 
on the whole Iliad. Though I be doomed to drink 
of the cup that the stepdame Phaedra brewed, the 
cup whereof her stepson^ was destined to take no 
hurl, or must die of Circe's herbs ; or though for 
me the Colchian witch heat the caldron on the fires 
of lolcus, yet since one girl hath stolen away my 
senses, from her house only shall go forth my funeral 
train. 

^' Medicine cures all the anguish of mankind ; 
love alone loves no physician of its ill. Machaon 
healed Philoctetes' limping leet, Chiron- the son of 
Phillyra opened the eyes of Phoenix, the Epidaurian 
god restored the dead Androgeon to his father's 
hearth by power of Cretan herbs, and the Mysian 
youth received succour from the same Haemonian 
spear that dealt the wound. If any can take this 
frailty from me, he and he alone will be able to 
bring the apple to the hands of Tantalus ; he too 
shall fill the casks from the maidens' ^ pitchers, that 
their tender necks be not bowed for ever by the 
burden of water; he too shall loose Prometheus' 
arms from the Caucasian crag and drive the vulture 
Irom his inmost heart. 

1 Hippolytus. This is the only known allusion to an 
attempt on the part of Phaedra to poison him. 
s The Danaids. 

67 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

quandocumque igitur vitam mea fata reposcent, 

et breve in exiguo marmore nonien ero, 
Maecenas, nostrae spes invidiosa iuventae, 

et vitae et morti gloria iusta nieae, 
si te forte meo ducet via proxima busto, 

esseda caelatis siste Britanna iugis, 
taliaque illacrimans mutae iace verba favillae : 

" Hiiic misero fatum dura putlla fuit." 

II 

Liber ei'am et vacuo meditabar vivere lecto ; 

at me composita pace fefellit Amor, 
cur haec in terris facies humana moratur ? 

luppitur, igaosco ^ pristina furta tua. 
fulva coma est longaeque manus, et maxima toto 

corpore, et incedit vel love digna soror, 
aut cum Dulicbias Pallas spatiatur ad aras, 

Gorgonis anguiferae pectus operta comis; 
qualis et Ischomache Lapithae genus heroine, 

Centauris medio grata rapina mero; 10 

Mercurio et sacris ^ fertur Boebeidos undis 

virgineum Brimo ^ com2)o.suisse latus. 
cedite iam, divae, quas pastor viderat olim 

Idaeis tunicas ponere verticibus ! 
banc utinam faciem nolit mutare senectus, 

etsi Cumaeae saecula vatis aget ! 

1 ignosco n ; ignoro JVF. 

2 et sacris Butler : sacris cod. Barberinus : satis AF. 

3 Brimo Turnchus : primo JSF. 

6& 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

'1 Therefore when at last the Fates demand my 
life, and I shall be no more than a brief name on a 
little stone of marble, then, Maecenas, thou hope 
and envy of our Roman youth, and, whether I live or 
die, mine own true glory, if perchance thy journeying 
lead thee near my tomb, stay awhile thy British 
chariot with carven yoke, and weeping pay this tribute 
to the silent dust : " An unrelenting maid wrought 
this poor mortal's death." 



II 

I WAS free and thought henceforth to lie alone of 
nights ; but though the truce was made, Love played 
me false. Why abides such mortal beauty upon 
earth ? Jupiter, I pardon thy gallantries of olden 
time. Yellow is her hair, and tapering her hands, 
tall and full her figure, and stately her walk, worthy 
the sister of Jove or like to Pallas, when she 
strides to Dulicliian altars, her breast veiled by the 
Gorgons' snaky locks. Fair is she as Ischomache, 
heroic child of the Lapithae, the Centaurs' welcome 
spoil in the revel's midst, or as Brimo when by the 
saci-ed waters of Boebeis she laid her virgin body at 
Mercury's side. Yield now, ye goddesses, whom of 
old the shepherd saw lay aside your raiment on the 
heights of Ida ! And oh ! may old age never mar 
that face, though she reach the years of the Cumaean 
prophetess. 



69 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

III 

Qvi nullum tibi dicebas iam posse nocere, 

haesisti, cecidit spiritus ille tuus ! 
vix unum potes, infelix, requiescere mensem, 

et turpis de te iam liber alter erit. 
quaerebam, sicca si posset piscis harena 

nee solitus ponto vivere torvus aper ; 
aut ego si possem studiis vigilare sevens: 

differtur, nuniquam tollitur ullus amor, 
nee me tam facies, quamvis sit Candida, cepit 

(lilia non domina sint magis alba mea ; 10 

ut Maeotica nix minio si certet Hibero, 

utque rosae pure lacte natant folia), 
nee de more comae per levia colla fluentes, 

non oculi, geminae, sidera nostra, faces, 
nee si qua Arabio lucet bombyce puella 

(non sum de nihilo blandus amator ego) : 
quantum quod posito formose saltat lacclio, 

ejiit ut euhantes dux Ariadna choros, 
et quantum, Aeolio cum temptat carmina plectro, 

par Aganippeae ludere docta lyrae ; 20 

et sua cum antiquae committit scrijjta Corinnae, 

carminaque Erinnes ^ non putat aequa suis. 
non tibi nascenti primis, mea vita, diebus 

candidus - argutum stei'nuit omen Amor ? 
haec tibi contulerunt caelestia munera divi, 

haec tibi ne matrem forte dedisse pute?. 

1 -que Erinnes Volscus, Beroaldus : quae lyrines ij.u-. quae 
quivis NF. 2 candidus Macrohius : ardidus NF. 

70 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 



III 

Thou, that ditlst boast that nought could harm thee 
morej art caught in the snare : thy proud spirit has 
fallen. Scarce, poor wretch, canst thou find rest for a 
single month, and now a second book of shame shall 
tell of thy doings. I was as one that seeks whether 
a fish may live on the dry sands, or a fierce wild 
boar in the midst of unfamiliar waves, when I tried 
if I could pass the night in sterner studies. Love is 
but put off, extinguished never. 

^ 'Twas not her face, bright though it be, that 
won me. Lilies would not surpass my mistress for 
whiteness ; 'tis as though Maeotic snows were to 
strive with Spanish vermilion, or i-ose-leaves floated 
amid stainless milk. 'Twas not her hair flowing 
trimly o'er her smooth neck, 'twas not the twin 
torches of her eyes, my lodestars, nor a girl shining 
in Arabian silks : not for such trifles as these am I 
a gallant lover ! 'Tis rather that at the revel's close 
she dances wondrously, even as Ariadne led the 
Maenad dance ; 'tis rather that when she essays to 
sing to the Aeolian lyre she rivals the harp of 
Aganippe in her skill to play, and challenges with 
her verse the writings of ancient Corinna, and counts 
not Erinna's songs the equals of her own. 

23 My life, did not bright Love sneeze a shrill 
omen at thine hour of birth, when day first dawned 
for thee .^ These heavenly gifts the gods, the gods 
bestowed, for I would not have thee think that 'twas 
thy mother gave them. Such boons no human 



71 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

non lion humani partus sunt talia dona : 

ista decern menses non peperere bona, 
gloria Romanis una es tu nata puellis : 

Romana accumbes prima puella lovi, 30 

nee semper nobiscum humana cubilia vises ; 

post Helenam haec terris forma secunda redit. 
hae effo nunc mirer si fla;xi'et nostra inventus? 

pulchrius hac fuerat, Troia, perire tibi. 
olim mirabar^ quod tanti ad Pergama belli 

Europae atque Asiae causa puella fuit : 
nunc. Pari, tu sapiens et tu, Menelae, fuisti, 

tu quia poscebas, tu quia lentus eras, 
digna quidem facies, pro qua vel obiret Achilles; 

vel Priamo belli causa probanda fuit. 40 

si quis vult fama tabulas anteire vetustas, 

hie dominam exemplo ponat in arte meam : 
sive illam Hesperiis, sive illam ostendet Eois^ 

uret et Eoos, uret et Hesperios. 
his saltem ut tenear iam finibus ! aut mihi si quis, 

acrius ut moriar, venerit alter amor ! 
ac veluti primo taurus detractat aratra, 

post venit assueto mollis ad arva iugo, 
sic primo iuvenes trepidant in amore feroces, 

dehincdoniiti post haec aequa et iniqua ferunt. 50 
turpia perpessus vates est vincla Melampus, 

cognitus Iphicli surripuisse boves ; 
quem non lucra, magis Fero formosa coegit, 

mox Amythaonia nupta tutura domo. 



72 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

parentage can confer^ those charms ne'er sprang 
from mortal womb. Thou and thou only wast 
born to be the glory of Roman maids ; thou shalt be 
the first maid of Rome to lie with Jove, nor shalt 
thou forever in our midst visit mortal couches^ 
Helen wore this beauty once, and now 'tis come to 
earth again with thee. 

^^ For thee then that our youth should burn, Avhy 
should I wonder now ? Better, O Troy, to have 
perished for Cynthia's sake. Of old I v/ondered that 
a girl should have been the cause of so mighty a 
conflict before the citadel of Ti-oy, where Eui'opeand 
Asia met in war. Now, Paris, I hold that thou, and 
thou, Menelaus, wert wise, thou that thou didst 
demand, thou that thou wert slow to reply. Worthy 
in sooth was such a face, that for it even Achilles 
should face death ; even Priaui could not but approve 
such cause for strife. If any desire to surpass the 
fame of all ancient pictures, let him take my mistress 
as model for his art ; if he show her to the peoples 
of the West or to the peoples of the East, he will set 
the East and set the West afire. 

^^ These bounds at least let me never more out- 
step ! Or if I do, let another passion smite me, if 
such there be, that shall burn me with keener agony. 
As at first the ox refuses the plough, yet at length 
becomes familiar to the yoke and goes quietly to the 
fields, so do proud youths fret in the first ecstasy of 
love, then, calmer grown, bear good and ill alike. 
Melampus the seer endured dishonouring fetters, 
convicted of having stolen the kine of Iphiclus : yet 
'twas not gain, but rather the fair face of Pero com- 
pelled him, Pero soon to be a bride in the halls of 
Amythaon. 

1 Or perhaps " with me this mortal couch." 

73 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

IV 

MvLTA prius dominae delicta queraris oportet, 

saepe roges aliquid, saepe repulsus eas, 
et saepe immeritos corrumpas dentibus ungues, 

et crepitum dubio suscitet ira pede ! 
nequiquani perfusa meis unguenta capillis, 

ibat et expense planta morata gradu. 
non hie herba valet, non hie nocturna Cytaeis, 

non Perimedeae ^ gramina cocta manus ; 
quippe ubi nee causas nee apertos ceniimus ictus, 

unde tamen veniant tot mala caeca via est; 10 
non eget hie medicis, non lectis mollibus aeger, 

huic nullum caeli tempus et aura nocet ; 
ambulat — et subito mirantur funus amici ! 

sic est incautum, quidquid habetur amor, 
nam cui non ego sum fallaci prabmia vati ? 

quae mea non decies somnia versat anus ? 
hostis si quis erit nobis, amet ille puellas : 

gaudcat in puero, si quis amicus erit. 
tranquillo tuta descendis flumine cumba : 

quid tibi tarn parvi litoris unda nocet? 20 

alter saepe uno mutat praecordia verbo, 

altera vix ipso sanguine mollis erit. 

1 Perimedeae Beroaldus on the authority of "■gome AlHS." ; 
per medeae JVF. 



74 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

IV 

Oft first must thou bemoan the transgressions of thy 
mistress, oft must thou ask a boon, and oft depart 
denied. Oft must thou bite thy nails for wratii at 
thine unmerited woe, and in anger stamp the ground 
with hesitating foot. 

5 In vain was my hair drenched with perfumes, in 
vain my feet went lingeringly with measured step. 
For such a case as mine avails no drug, no Colchian 
sorceress of the night, no, nor the herbs Perimede's 
hands distilled. For here we see no cause nor whence 
the blow is dealt ; dark is the path whereby so many 
griefs come none the less. In such a case the sick 
man needs no physician, no soft pillows; him no 
inclement season, no wind of heaven racks : he walks 
abroad, and on a sudden his friends marvel to see him 
dead. Whate'er love be, 'tis a strange thing, that 
none may guard against. For what lying seer have I 
not rewarded ? What hag has not three times three 
pondered my dreams .^ 

^' Let my enemies love women, my friends have 
their delight in a boy. For then thou descendest 
the tranquil stream in unimperilled bark. How can 
the waves of such a tiny shore do thee hurt .'' His 
heart is oft softened by a single word ; she will scarce 
be appeased even by thy blood. 



75 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 



Hoc verumest, tota te feiri, Cynthia, Roma, 

et noil ignota vivere nequitia ? 
haec merui sperare ? dabis mihi, perfida, poenas; 

et nobis aliquo/ Cynthia, ventus erit. 
inveniam tamen e multis fallacibus unam, 

quae fieri nosti'O carmine nota velit, 
nee mihi tam duris insultet moribus et te 

vellicet : heu sero flebis amata diu. 
nunc est ira recens, nunc est discedere tempus : 

si dolor afuerit, crede, redibit amor. 10 

non ita Carpathiae variant Aquilonibus undae, 

nee dubio nubes vertitur atra Noto, 
quam facile irati verbo mutantur amantes : 

dum licet, iniusto subtrahe coUa iugo. 
nee tu non aliquid, sed prima nocte, dolcbis ; 

omne in amore malum, si patiare, leve est. 
at tu per dominae lunonis dulcia iura 

parce tiiis animis, vita, nocere tibi. 
non solum taurus ferit uncis cornibus hostem, 

verum etiam instanti laesa repugnat ovis. 20 

nee tibi periuro scindam de corpore vestes, 

nee mea praeclusas fregerit ira fores, 
nee tibi conexos -iratus carpere crines, 

nee duris ausim laedtre pollicibus : 
rusticus haec aliquis tam turpia proelia quaerat, 

cuius non hederae circuiere caput. 

I aliquo Bosscha : aquilo NF. 

76 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK U 



Is this tvae, Cynthiaj that through all Rome th)' name 
is a byword, and that thou livest in open wantonness ? 
Did I deserve to look for this ? Faithless one, I will 
punish thee, and the wind shall bear me, Cynthia, to 
some other haven. Thougli all vromankind be deceit- 
ful, yet out of so many I shall find one that will be 
glad to be made famous by my song, that will not 
with heart hard as tliine heap insult on my head, 
but will revile t/ijt^ name. Alas ! loved for so long, 
too late will fall thy tears ! 

^ Now is mine anger fresh, now is the time to part 
from thee : when the smart is over, believe me, love 
will return. Not so swiftly do the Carpathian waves 
change their hue beneath the North Wind's blasts, 
not so swiftly veers the dark storm-cloud before the 
South-West's shifting gale, as one word will lightly 
change the wrath of lovers. While yet thou mayst, 
Propertius, withdraw thy neck from the unjust yoke. 
Somewhat wilt thou suffer, but only on the first night ; 
so but thou wilt endure, all love's ills are light. 

1' But oh ! by the sweet laws of our mistress Juno 
do thou, my life, spare by thy waywardness to harm 
thyself. Not only the bull strikes at its foe with 
curved horn ; even the ewe when hurt resists the 
aggressor. I will not rend thy raiment from thy 
faithless limbs, nor shall my anger break down the 
doors thou barrest against me ; I would not venture 
in my wrath to tear thy plaited tresses, nor bruise 
thee with cruel fist. Let some boor seek combats 
base as this, around whose head the ivy ne'er hath 
twined. I will but write words, that thy lifetime 



77 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

scribam igitur, quod non umquam tua deleat aet;is, 
"Cyntliia, forma potens ; Cynthia, verba levis." 

crede mihi, quamvis contemnas murmm-a famae, 
hie tibi pallori, Cynthia, versus erit. 30 

VI 

Non ita complebant Ephyreae Laidos aedes, 

ad cuius iacuit Graecia tota fores ; 
turba Menandreae fuerat nee Thaidos olim 

tanta, in qua populus lusit Erichthonius ; 
nee quae deletas potuit componere Thebas, 

Phryne tarn multis facta beata viris. 
quin etiani falsos fingis tibi saepe propinquos, 

oscula nee desunt qui tibi iure ferant. 
me iuvenum pictae facies, me nomina laedunt, 

me tener in cunis etsine voce puer^ 10 

me laedet, si multa tibi dabit oscula mater, 

me soror et cum quae ^ dormit arnica simul : 
omnia me laedent : timid us sum (ignosce timori) 

et miser in tunica suspieor esse virum. 
his olim, ut fama est, vitiis ad proelia ventum est, 

his Troiana vides funera principiis ; 
aspera Centauros eadem dementia iussit 

frangere in adversum pocula Pirithoum. 
cur exempla petam Graium ? tu criminis auctor 

nutritus dure, Romule, lacte lupae : 20 

tu rapei'e intactas docuisli impune Sabinas : 

per te nunc Romae quidlibet audet Amor. 
1 quae Doum,: qua NF. 
78 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

shall not see effaced : " Cynthia, mighty is thy beauty ; 
Cynthia, light are thy words." Believe me, though 
thou spurn the whisper of scandal, this verse will 
drive the colour from thy cheek. 



VI 

Not so war. the house of Ephyrean Lais thronged, 
at whose doors all Greece lay bowed ; nor even did 
Menander's Thais, the darling of the folk of Athens, 
'father about her such a swarm of gallants ; nor 
Phryne, who might have restored the miined walls of 
Thebes, so many a lover had brought her riches. 

' Aye, and oft thou feign'st false kindred and 
lackest not those that have a right to kiss thee. 
Jealous am I of the very portraits, the very names of 
young men, even of the tender boy in the cradle 
that knows not how to speak. Jealous shall I be 
of thy mother ,if she gives thee many a kiss, of thy 
sister and of the fi iend that may chance to sleep with 
thee. All things will awake my fears ; I am a coward 
(pardon my cowardice), and beneath the woman's 
dress I, poor fool, suspect the presence of a man. 

^^ 'Twas by reason of such jealousies that of old, as 
the story goes, the world went forth to battle ; such 
was the beginning of the slaughter before Troy. The 
same madness bade the Centaurs break embossed 
goblets in conflict against Pirithous. Why should I 
seek examples from the tales of Greece .'' Thou, 
Romulus, nurtured by the milk of the cruel she-wolf, 
didst give warrant for the crime ; thou taughtest thy 
Romans to ravish unpunished the Sabine maids ; thou 
art the cause that now there is naught Love dare not 
do at Rome. Happy was the wife of Admetus, happy 

79 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER 11 

felix Admeti coniunx et lectus Vlixis, 

et quaecumque viri femina limen amat ! 
templa Pudicitiae quid opus statuisse puellis, 

si cuivis nuptae quidlibet esse licet? 
quae manus obscenas depinxit prima tabellas 

et posuit casta turjjia visa donio, 
ilia puellarum ingenuos corrupit ocellos 

nequitiaeque suae noluit esse rudes. 30 

a gemat, in terris ista qui protulit arte 

iurgia sub tacita condita laeLitia ! 
non istis olim variabant tecta figuris : 

turn paries iiullo crimine pictus erat. 
sed non immerito velavit ai'anea faniuu 

et mala desertos occupat herba deos. 
quos igitur tibi custodeSj quae limina ponam, 

quae numquam supra pes inimicus eat ? 
nam nihil invitae tristis custodia prodest : 

quam peccare pudet, Cynthia, tuta sat est. 40 

nos uxor numquam, numquam seducet ^ amica : 

semper amica mihi, semper et uxor eris. 

VII 

Gavisa est certe sublatam Cynthia legem, 
qua quondam edicta Hemiis ^ uterque diu, 

ni nos divideret : quamvis diducerc amantes 
non queat invites luppiter ipse duos. 



1 seducet Rolhstein : me ducet NF. 

2 llemus cod, Berocddi : stemus NF. 



80 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

the partner of Ulysses' bedj and every Avoman that 
loves her husband's home. 

25 What profits it for maids to found temples in 
honour of Chastity, if every bride is permitted to be 
■whate'er she will ? The hand that first painted lewd 
pictures, and set up objects foul to view in chaste 
homes, first corrupted the unsullied eyes of maids 
and refused to allow them to be ignorant of its own 
wantonness. May he groan in torment who by his 
vile art first wakened strife 'twixt lovers, strife 
lurking secret under silent joy ! ^ Not with such 
figures did men of old adorn their houses ; then their 
walls had no foul deeds painted on tliem. But 
deservedly have cobwebs gathered o'er the temjjles 
and rank herbage has overgrown the neglected gods. 

^^ What guardians then, what limits shall I set 
thee, thresholds o'er which no enemy's foot shall 
ever pass ? For no stern guardian can save her that 
will not be saved : she alone is surely guarded, my 
Cynthia, who is ashamed to sin. As for me, no wife 
nor mistress shall ever steal me from thee ; for me 
thou shalt at once be mistress and wife. 



VII 

In very truth Cynthia rejoiced when that law was 
swept away, at the making of which we both wept 
for many an hour, for fear it should divide us : though 
against their will not Jove himself could part a pair 

1 The reason seems to be that the coiitempUition of such 
pictures, though it may give sileut pleasure, yet contains in 
germ the severance of lovers through infidelity. 

F 81 



SEXTI PROPEUTI ELEGIARVM LIBER U 
" At masnus Caesar." sed masTius Caesar in 



armis 



devictae gentes nil in amore valent. 
nam citius paterer caput hoc discederc collo 

quam possem nuptae perdere more faces, 
aut ego transirem tua limina clausa maiitiis, 

respiciens udis prodita luminibus. 10 

a mea turn quales caneret tibi tibia somnos, 

tibia, funesta tristior ilia tuba ! 
unde mihi patriis natos praebere triumphis?^ 

nullus de nostro sanguine miles erit. 
quod si vera meae comitarem ^ castra puellae, 

non mihi sat magnus Castoris iret equus. 
hinc etenim tantum meruit mea gloria nom :n, 

gloria ad hibernos lata Borystlienidas. 
tu mihi sola places : placeam tibi, Cynthia, solus : 

hie erit et jiatrio nomine ^ pluris amor. 20 



VIII 

Eripitvr nobis iam pridem cara puella 
et tu me lacrimas fundere, amice, vetas ? 

nullae sunt inimicitiae nisi amoris acerbae : 
ipsum me iugula, lenior hostis ero. 

possum ego in alterius positam speclare lacerto 
nee mea dicetur, quae modo dicta mea est? 

1 A new elegy in XF. 

2 coniitariiu r: comitarent iVP. 

* nomiiie Postgate : saTiguine AF. 

82 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

of lovers. " Nay/' say you^ " but Caesar is mighty." 
True, but his might is the might of armies : to have 
vanquished nations counts for nothing in the world 
of love. For sooner would I suffer my head to be 
severed from my body than I could quench the fire 
of our passion at the whim of a bride, or, a wedded 
husband, pass thy house forever barred to me, and 
glance back with streaming eyes at the threshold I 
had betrayed. Ah I then of what slumbers would 
the pipe of the wedding company sing to thee, that 
pipe more sadl}- souncling than the trump of funeral ! 
^^ How should I furnish children to swell our 
country's triumphs ? From my blood shall no soldier 
ever spring. But if I were to follow my mistress' camp 
(the one true camp for me !), not mighty enough for me 
were Castor's war-horse. 'Twas in Love's warfare that 
njy fame won such renown, fame that has travelled to 
the wintry Borysthenidae. Thou only pleasest me ; 
let me in like manner, Cynthia, be thy only pleasure : 
love such as this will be worth more to me than the 
name of father. 



VIII 

The girl I loved so long is being torn from my 
arms, and dost thou, my friend, forbid me to Aveep .'' 
No enmities ai*e bitter save those of love ; slay me 
if thou wilt, and my hatred shall be milder far. Can 
I bear to behold her reclined on another's arm ? 
Shall she no more be called "mine," that was 
"mine" so lately? All things change: and loves 



83 



SEXTI PROPRRTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

omnia vertuntur . certe vertuntur amores : 
vinceris aut vincis, haec in amore rota est. 

maffni saepe duces, magni cecidere tyranni, 

et Thebae stetcrant altaque Troia fiiit. 10 

munera quanta dedi vel qualia carniina feci ; 
ilia tamen numquam feirea dixit " Amo." ^ 



VIIIa 

Ergo lam multos nimium tenierarius annos, 

improba, qui tulerim teque tuamque domum ? 
ecquandone tibi liber sum visus ? an usque 

in nostrum iacies verba superba caput ? 
sic igitur prima moriere aetata, Properti ? 

sed morere ; interitu gaudeat ilia tuo ' 
exagitet nostros Manes, sectetur et umbias, 

insultetque rogis, calcet et ossa mea ! 20 

[quid ? non Antigonae tumulo Boeotius Hacmon 

corruit ipse suo saucius ense latus, 
et sua cum miserae permiscuit ossa puellae, 

qua sine Thebanam noluit ire domum ? ^J 
sed non efFugies : mecum moriaris oportct ; 

hoc eodem ferro stillet uterque cruor. 

^ The MSS. mark no hrcak at this point. But 1-12 can stand 
by themselves and dearly do not belong to what follows. I there- 
fore mark a new elegy. 

2 Lines 21-24 cannot belong to their present context ; the 
simile is too irrelevant. Ilousman would place them after 
XX VIII. 40, perhaps rightly. 

84 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

not least ; conqueror thou art or conquered ; so 
turns the wheel of love. Oft have leaders and lords 
of might fallen ; Thebes stood of old and lofty Troy 
once was. What gifts I gave her, what songs I made 
for her ! Yet never did she soften her iron heart 
nor say, " I love thee." 



VIIIa 

So then, have I, that through so many years too 
rashly have endured thee and thy household, cruel 
girl, have I ever seemed to thee aught save thy 
slave ? Or wilt thou never cease to hurl words of 
scorn at me ? 

^' So then, Propertius, must thou die in thine 
earliest youth ? Nay, die ! let her rejoice to see thee 
perish ! Let her harry my ghost, and vex my shade, let 
her trample on my pyre and spurn my bones ! [Why ? 
Did not Boeotian Haemon die by Antigone's tomb, 
his side rent by his own sword, and mingle his bones 
with those of the hapless maid, without whom he 
would not return to his Theban home ?] But thou 
shalt not escape; thou must die with me, on this same 
steel must drip the blood of both ! Such death shall 



85 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

quamvis ista mihi mors est inhonesta futura : 
mors inhonesta quidem, tu moriere tamen.^ 
• • • • • 

ille etiam abrepta desertus coniuge Achilles 

cessare in tectis pertiilit arma sua. SO 

viderat ille fugas, tractos in litore Achivos, 

fervere et Hectorea Dorica castra face ; 
viderat informem multa Patroclon harena 

porrectum et sparsas caede iacere comas, 
omnia formosam propter Briseida passus : 

tantus in erepto saevit amore dolor, 
at postquam sera captiva est reddita poena, 

fortem ilium Haemoniis Hectora traxit equis. 
inferior multo cum sim vel matre ^ vel armis, 

mirum, si de me iure triumphat Amor? 40 

IX 

IsTE quod est, ego saepe fui : sed fors et in hora 

hoc ipso eiecto^ carior alter erit. 
Penelope poterat bis denos salva per annos 

vivere, tarn multis femina digna procis ; 
coniugium falsa poterat differre Minerva, 

nocturno solvens texta diurna dolo ; 
visura et quamvis numquam speraret Vlixen, 

illmn exspectando facta remansit anus. 

1- Some lines seem to have been lost at this point, if, indeed, 
^9-40 can be rajardrd as belonginrj at all to what precedes. 

2 matre, a MS. of L. Valla : luarte NF. 

3 eiecto S" : electo ]\'F. 
86 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

be for me a death of shame ; but, shameful though 
it be, thou still shalt die. 



29 Even the great Achilles when left forlorn, his 
love snatched from his side, endured that his arms 
should lie idle in his tent. He saw the rout, the 
Achaeans dragged along the shore, he saw the Dorian 
camp glow with the torch of Hector, he saw Patroclus 
lie low defiled with clotted sand, his streaming hair 
dabbled with blood ; and all this he endured for the 
sake of the lovely Briseis. Such is the force and 
fierceness of grief when love is stolen away. But 
when with tardy retribution his captive was restored 
to him, it was the same Achilles dragged brave 
Hector at the heels of his Haemonian steeds. What 
wonder then if Love rightfully triumphs over me, 
that have neither mother nor armour like to his ? 



IX 

What }'onder fool now is, I often was. Yet one day, 
it may be, he too shall be cast forth and another 
dearer to thy heart. 

^ Penelope was able to live true to her vows for 
twice ten years, a woman worthy to be wooed of so 
many suitors ; she was able to put off her marriage by 
her false weaving, in crafty wise, unravelling by night 
the weft of the day, and though she ne'er hoped to 
look on Ulysses' face again, she remained faithful in 
his house, grown old in waiting his return. Briseis 



87 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

nee non exanimem amplectens Briseis Achillen 

eandida vesana verberat ora manu ; 10 

et dominum lavit maerens eaptiva eruentura, 

propositiim fulvis ^ in Simoenta vadis, 
ibedavitque comas, et tanti corpus Achilli 

maxiniaque in parva sustulit ossa manu ; 
cum tibi nee Peleus aderat nee caerula mater, 

Scvria nee viduo Deidamia toro.'^ 
tunc igitur veris gaudebat Graecia natis, 

tunc etiam felix inter et arma pudor. 
at tu non una potuisti nocte vacare, 

impia, non unum sola manere diem ! 20 

quin etiam multo duxistis pocula risu : 

forsitan et de me verba fuere mala, 
hie etiam petitur, qui te prius ante reliquit: 

di faciant, isto capta fruare viro ! 
haec mihi vota tuam propter suscepta salutem, 

cum capite hoc Stygiae iam poterentur aquae, 
et lectum flentes circum staremus amici ? 

hie ubi tum, pro di, perfida, quisve fuit ? 
quid si longinquos retinerer miles ad Indos, 

aut mea si staret navis in Oceano ? 30 

sed vobis facile est verba et componere fraudes : 

hoc unum didicit femina semper opus, 
non sic incerto mutantur flamine Syrtes, 

nee folia hiberno tam tremefacta Noto, 
quam cito feminea non constat foedus in ira, 

sive ea causa gravis sive ea causa levis. 

1 fulvis r : fluviis NF. 2 toro Itali : viro NP. 

88 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

too, one arm about her dead Achilles, beat her fair 
cheeks with frenzied hand, and, captive as she was, 
with weeping washed the bloodstained corpse of her 
lord and master, where she had laid him in the 
yellow shallows of Simois ; she cast ashes on her 
hair, and her small hand sufficed to hold the body 
and mighty bones of the great Achilles. For in that 
day, Achilles, neither Peleus nor thy sea-born mother, 
nor Scyrian Deidamia, whom thou leftest widowed, 
were by thy side. 

^' Thus in those days Greece was glad of her true 
children ; then even in the camp did modesty flourish. 
But thou, impious one, couldst not forego the joys of 
even one nischt, couldst not abide alone for even one 
day. Nay, more, ye twain laughed loud over the 
wine-cup, and perchance spake evil words of me. 
And this man whom thou seekest is even he that first 
left thee of old. God grant thee joy of such a mate, 
deluded girl ! 

2^ Is this the end of the vows I made for thy safety, 
when the waves of Styx had all but whelmed thy head, 
and round about thy bed we, thy friends, stood and 
wept ? Where then was this lover of thine, O God, 
or what cared he ? 

29 What wouldst thou do were I a soldier, kept 
far hence in distant Ind, or if my bark were moored 
in the western ocean ? But 'tis easy for you to 
contrive false tales and deceits. This art alone has 
woman ne'er failed to leai'n. Not so swiftly do the 
Syrtes change before the veering gale, nor the 
leaves tremble before the wintry South Wind, but 
swifter far is plighted faith forgot in a woman's 
anger, be the cause grave or light. 



89 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

nunc, quoniam ista tibi placuit sententia, cedam : 

tela, precor, pueri, promite acuta niagis, 
figite certantes atque hanc mihi solvite vitam ! 

sanguis erit vobis maxima palma meus. 40 

sidera sunt testes et matutina pruina 

et furtim misero ianua aperta mihi, 
te nihil in vita nobis acceptius umquam : 

nunc quoque eris, quamvis sic inimica mihi. 
nee domina uUa meo j)onet vestigia lecto : 

solus ero, quoniam non licet esse tuum. 
atque utinam, si forte pics eduximus annos, 

ille vir in medio fiat amore lapis ! ^ 



non ob regna magis diris cecidere sub armis 

Thebani media non sine matre duces : 50 

quam, mihi si media liceat pugnare puella 
mortem ego non fugiam morte sub! re tua. 



Sed tempus lustrare aliis Helicona choreis, 
et campum Haemonio iam dare tempus equo, 

iam libet et fortes memorare ad proelia turmas 
et Romana mei dicere castra ducis. 

quod si deficiant vires, audacia certe 

laus erit : in magnis et voluisse sat est. 

^ Some lines have dearly been lost at this point, and I there- 
fore mark a gap with Lachmann. Housman would insert VIII. 

90 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

^' But now, since thou hast chosen this for thy path, 
I will yield. Bring forth, ye loves, yet sharper arrows, 
and vying with one another pierce my heart and let 
the vital spirit free. Great glory shall my life-blood 
bring ye ! The stars are witness and the morning 
frost, and the door that stealthily oped to let me in, 
that thei-e ne'er was aught in life more dear to my 
heart than thou ; and thus I'll love thee still, though 
thou art so unkind. No mistress ever shall come 
into my bed ; alone will I live, since thine I may not 
be. And oh, if perchance my life hath been spent 
in true service of the gods, may thy mate in the mid- 
course of passion become a stone. 



*' In no more deadly strife did the Theban chief- 
tains fight and fall to win a throne, while in their 
midst their mother strove to part them ; nor from 
such death would I shrink, not though Cynthia strove 
to part us, if only so thou also mightest die. 




X 

But now 'tis time with other measures to range tj*fe 
slopes of Helicon ; 'tis time to launch the Haemoman^^_^^ 
steed o'er the open plain ; now would I sing of hosts ' 

brave in battle and tell of my chieftain's Roman 
camp. But should strength fail me, yet my daring 
shall win me fame : in mighty enterprises enough 
even to have willed success. Let early youth sing 



91 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

aetas prima canat Veneres, extrema tumultus : 

bella canam, quando scrij)ta puella mea est. ,^ 

nunc volo subducto gravior proccdere vultu, «-^\v^ s 

nunc aliam citharam me mea Musa docet.^^ir-^lO ^ 
surge, anima ; ex humili iam carmine sumite vires, 

Pierides : magni nunc erit oris opus, 
iam negat Euphrates equitem post terga tueri 

Parthorum et Grasses se tenuisse dolet : 
India quin/ Auguste, tuo dat col la triumpho, 

et domus intactae te tremit Arabiae ; 
et si qua extremis tellus se subtraliit oris, 

sentiat ilia tuas postraodo capta niauus. 
haec ego castra sequar ; vates tua castra canendo 

magnus ero : servent hunc mihi fata diem ! 20 
ut caput in magnis ubi non est tangere signis, 

ponitur hac imos ante corona pedes, 
sic nos nunc, inopes laudis conscendere carmen, 

pauperibus sacris vilia tura damns, 
nondum etiam Ascraeos norunt mea carmina fontes, 

sed modo Permessi flumine lavit Amor. 

XI 

ScRiBANT de te alii vel sis ignota licebit : 

laudet, qui sterili semina ponit humo. 
omnia, crede mihi, tecum uno munera lecto 

auferet extremi funeris atra dies ; 

i quin Beroaldus : quia NF. 

92 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

the charms of love, life's later prime the storm of 
war : war will I sing, now that I have set forth all 
my mistress' charms. Now would I go my way with 
grave frown stamped on serious brow ; my Muse 
now bids me strike another lyre. Awake, my soul ! 
Ye Pierid maids, leave these humble strains and 
take a stronger tone ; the work that waits you needs 
a mighty voice. 

13 Now does Euphrates deny that the Parthian 
aims his backward shaft, and grieves that ever he 
cut short the return of the Crassi. Nay, even India, 
Augustus, bows her neck to grace thy triumph, and 
the house of virgin Arabia trembles before thee ; and 
if there be any land withdrawn upon earth's furthest 
rim, captured hereafter let it feel thy mighty hand. 

1^ This be the camp I follow. Great will I be 
among singers by singing of thy wars. Let destiny 
keep that glorious day in store for me. 

-1 As when we cannot reach the head of some tall 
statue, our garland is laid thus hinnbly before its 
feet, so now, too weak to climb to the heights of thy 
glory's song, with lowly rite we give thee the incense 
of the poor. Not yet have my songs come to know 
the founts of Ascra ; Love has but dipped them in 
Permessus' stream.^ 

XI 

Let others write of thee ; or be thou all unknown. 
Let him praise thee that will sow his harvest in a 
barren soil : all thy endowments, believe me, the 
last dark hour of funeral shall consume with thee on 

1 I.e., "I have not attempted epic, liut only erotic verse." 
The key to the passage is found in Verg. Ed. vi. 64, where 
Gallus' call to write epic is symbolised by his summons from 
Permessus to receive the pipe of Hesiod of Ascra. 

93 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
et tua transibit contemnens ossa viator, 
nee dicet " Cinis hie docta puella fuit." 

XII 

QvicvMQVE ille fuitj puerum qui pinxit Amorem, 

nonne putas miras hunc habuisse man us ? 
is piimuin vidit sine se_nsu vivere amantes, 

et levibus curis magna perire bona, 
idem non frustra ventosas addidit alas, 

fecit et lumiano corde volare deum :. ^ 
scilicet alterna quoniam iactamur in uiWa, 

nostraque non ullis permanet aura locis. 
et merito hamatis manus est armata sagittfs, 

et pharetia ex umero Gnosia utroque iacet : 10 
ante ferit quoniam, tuti quam cernimus hostem, 

nee quisquam ex illo vulnere sanus abit. 
in me tela manent, manet et piierilis imago : 

sed certe pennas perdidit ille suas ; 
evolat ei nostro quoniam de pectore nusquam, 

assiduusque meo sanguine bella gerit. 
quid tibi iucundum est siccis habitare medullis? 

si pudor est, alio traice duella tua! ^ 
intactos isto satius temptare veneno : 

non ego, sed tenuis yapu'nt umbra mea. 20 

quam si perdideris, quis erit qui talia cantet, 

(haec mea Musa levis gloria magna tua est), 
qui caput et digitos et lumina nigra puellae, 

et canat ut soleant molliter ire pedes? 

1 pudor V : puer NF. duella TApaiua : puella NP. tua r : 
tuo NF. 

94- 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

the selfsame bier, and the traveller shall spurn thine 
ashes as he passes by, nor ever say : " This dust was 
once a learned maid." 

XII 

Whoe'er he was first painted Love in likeness of a 
bov, think'st thou not his hands had wondrous skill ? 
He first saw that there is no wisdom in the lives of 
lovers, and that mighty blessings are lost through 
petty cares. He too with good reason gave him 
windy wings, and made him flit about the hearts of 
men ; for of a truth we are ever tossed upon a 
shifting sea, and our breeze abides never in the same 
quarter. Rightly too is Love's hand armed with 
barbed arrows, and the Cnossian quiver hangs from 
his shoulders twain ; for he strikes e'er from our 
fancied safety we may see the foe, nor does any go 
scatheless from the wound he deals. 

^3 In me his darts stick fast, for me he still wears 
the form of a boy ; but of a truth he has lost his 
wings, for nowhither, alas ! flies he forth from my 
bosom, and tireless he wages war within my blood. 

1' What delight hast thou to dwell in this withered 
heart of mine } If thou hast aught of shame, else- 
where transfer thy warfare. Better far to assail those 
that have never felt the power of thy venomed shaft. 
'Tis not I, but my wasted shadov/, thou smitest : yet, 
if thou destroy me utterly, where wilt thou find one 
to chant such strains as these.'' (Slight though my 
Muse be, yet 'tis thy great renown ) Wliere wilt 
thou find one to sing the face, the hands, the dark 
eyes of my beloved, and how soft her footsteps 
fall .? 



^^ 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

XIII 

NoN tot Achaemeniis armatur Erythra* sagitti":, 

spicula qiiot nostro pectore fixit Amor, 
hie me tarn graciles vetuit contemnere Musas, 

iussit et Ascraeum sic habitare nemus, 
non lit Pieriae quercus mea verba sequantnr, 

aut possim Ismaria ducere valle fevas, 
sed magis ut nostro stupefiat Cj'iithia versu : 

tunc ego sini Inachio notior arte Lino, 
non ego sum forniae tantum mirator honestae, 

nee si qua illustres feniina iactat avos : 
me iuvet in gremio doctae legisse puellae, 

auribus et puris scripta probasse mea. 
haec ubi contigerint^ populi confusa valeto 

tabula : nam domina iudice tutus ero. 
quae si forte bonas ad pacem verterit aures, 

possum inimicitias tunc ego ferre lovis. 



XIIIa 

QvANDOcvMQVE igitur nostros mors claudet ocellos 

accipe quae serves funeris acta mei. 
nee mea tunc longa spatietur imagine pompa, 

nee tuba sit fati vana querela mei ; 20 

nee mihi tunc fulcro sternatur lectus eburno^ 

nee sit in Attalico mors mea nixa toro. 

1 ErythrvL Rousman : Etrusca iS'F. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 



XIII 

Not with so many Persian shafts is Erythra armed 
as the darts that Love hath planted in my breast. 
'Tvvas he forbade me to despise the trivial Muse and 
commanded me to dwell thus in the grove of Ascra ; 
not in such wise that the Pierian oaks should follow 
my words, or that I should lead the wild beasts after 
me down Ismanis' vale, but rather that Cynthia 
should marvel at my verse. Thus should I win more 
fame than Inachian Linus. 

^ I marvel not only at comeliness of form, nor if 
a woman boasts glorious ancestry. Be ifc rather my 
joy to have read my verse as I lay in the arms of a 
learned maid and to have pleased her pure ears with 
what I write. When such bliss hath fallen to my lot, 
farewell the confused talk of the people ; I will rest 
secure in the judgment of my mistress. If only she 
chance to turn her thoughts toward peace and hear 
me kindly, though Jove be angry, I can bear his 
wrath. 



XIIIa 

Wherefore, Cynthia, when at last death shall seal 
my eyes, hear thou the order of my funeral. For me 
let no procession walk with long array of masks, 
let no trumpet make vain wailing for my end. Let 
no last bed on posts of ivory be strewn for me, let not 
my dead body lie on a couch of cloth-of-gold ; no 



97 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
desit odoriferis oido mihi lancibus, adsint 

plebei parvae funeris exsequiae. 
sat nica sit uiagno/ si tres sint pompa libelli, 

quos ego Perseplionae maxima dona fcram. 
tu vero nudum pectus lacerata sequeris, 

nee fueris nonien lassa vocare meum, 
osculaque in gelidis pones suprema labellis, 

cum dabitui' Syrio munere plenus onyx. 30 

deinde, ubi suppositus cinerem me fecerit ardor, 

accipiat Manes parvula testa meos, 
et sit in exiguo laurus super addita busto, 

quae tegat exstincti funeris umbra locum, 
et duo sint versus : qvi nvnc iacet horrida pvlvis, 

VNIVS HIC QVONDAM SERVVS AMOUIS ERAT. 

nec minus haec nostri notescet fama sepulcri, 

quam fuerant Phthii busta cruenta viri. 
tu quoque si quando venies ad fata, memento, 

hoc iter ad lapides cana veni memores. 40 

interea cave sis nos aspernata se])ultos : 

non nihil ad verum conscia terra sapit. 
atque utinam primis animam me ponere cuiiis 

iussisset quaevis de Tribus una Soror ! 
nam quo tam dubiae servetur spiritus horae ? 

Nestoris est visas post tria saecla cinis : 
cui si tam longae ^ minuisset fata senectae 

Gallicus ^ Iliacis miles in aggeribus, 

1 niMgiio Phillimorc : mnyjna NF. 

2 cni si tam longae Livineius : quis tam longaevae NF.  

3 Ga'licus NF, ijrobably corrupt: b.llicus Be/tot: llius " 
Lfickmann. 

98 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

line of attendants with sweet-scented platters for me, 
only the humble obsequies that mai-k a poor man's 
death. 

2*» Costly enough shall be my funeral train if three 
little books go with me to the grave, that I may bear 
them to Persej)hone as my most precious offering. 
And thou shalt follow, thy breast all bare and torn, 
nor shalt thou weary of calling upon my name, but 
shalt imprint the last kiss upon my clay-cold lips, 
when the casket of onyx with its gilt of Syrian nard 
is bestowed upon me. Then when the fire beneath 
hath burned me to an ash, let a tiny earthen urn 
receive my ghost, and over my little tomb let a laurel 
be planted to o'ershade the spot, where the fire of 
death hath ceased to burn ; and thereon be these 
two verses : he that now lies naught but unlovely 

DUST, once served ONE LOVE AND ONE LOVE ONLY. 

3' So shall the fame of my sepulchre be blazoned 
abroad no less than the bloody tomb of the Phthian 
hero. And whene'er thou too shalt come to thy 
death, do thou come gray-haired by the old path to 
the stones that guard my memory. Meanwhile see 
thou despise me not in my tomb. Not all uncon- 
scious and witless of the truth are the ashes of man. 

*^ And ah ! would that any one of the three Sisters 
had ordained that 1 should die, while yet I lay in the 
cradle. For to what end is man's breath kept whole 
in him, breath that any moment may cease to be .'' 
Not till three generations of men had past away 
Avere Nestor's ashes seen : yet had some Phrvgian 
warrior from the ramparts of Troy cut short the long- 
drawn doom of his old age, he ne'er had seen the body 



99 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

rn)u ille AnLilocbi vidisset corpus humarij 

diceret aut " O mors, cur mihi sera venis ? " 50 
tu tamen amisso non miniqiiani flebis amito : 

fas est praeteritos semj)er amare vires, 
testis, qui niveum quondam pereussit Adoiiem 

venantem Idalio verlice durus a})er ; 
illis formosus 1 iacuisse paludibus, ilLuc 

diceris efFusa tu, Venus, isse coma, 
sed frustra mutos revocabis, Cynthia, Manes : 

nam mea qui poterunt ossa minuta loqui.-* 

XIV 

Non ita Dardanio gavisus Atrida triunipho est, 

cum caderent magnae I.aomedontis opes ; 
nee sic errore exacto laetatus Vlixes, 

cum tetigit carae litora Dulichiae ; 
nee sic Electra, salvum cum aspexit Oresten, 

cuius falsa tenens fleverat ossa soror ; 
nee sic incohimem Minois Thesea vidit, 

DaedaHum lino cum duce rexit iter; 
quanta ego praeterita collegi gaudia nocte : 

imraortalis ero, si altera talis erit. 
at dum demissis supplex cervicibus ibam, 

dicebar sicco vilior esse lacu. 
nee mihi iam fastus opponere quaerit inicjuos, 

nee mihi ploranti lenta sedere potest. 

* formosus Postgate : furuiosum NF, 



100 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK TT 

of Antilochus laid in earth, nor cried aloud : " O death ! 
why tarriest thou so late e'er thou come to me ? " 

^1 Yet thou, when thou hast lost thy friend, wilt 
sometimes weep for him ; undying love is the due 
of the loved and lost. Witness the cruel boar that 
struck snow-white Adonis as he hunted on the 
Idalian peak. There in the marsh, 'tis said, he lay 
in his beauty ; thither, 'tis said, thou wentest, Venus, 
thy tresses unbound. But in vain, Cynthia, shalt thou 
recall my voiceless shade to lite ; for what answer shall 
my crumbled bones have strength to make ? 



XIV 

Not so did Atrides rejoice in his triumph over 
Troy, when tlie vast wealth of Laomedon fell in 
ruin ; not so glad was Ulysses, when, his wanderings 
o'er, he reached the shore of his beloved Dulichia ; 
not so happy Electra,when she saw Orestes safe and 
sound, o'er whose feigned ashes ^ she had we])t, 
clasping them to her heart ; not with such joy did 
the daughter of Minos behold Theseus come forth 
unscathed, when the guiding thread led him through 
the Daedalian maze. All their gladness was naught, 
compared with the joys that were mine last night. 
Come such another night, and I shall be immortal ! 
(Yet when I went my way a suppliant with drooping 
head she spoke of me as more worthless than a pool 
run dry.) No more does she meet me with cruel 
disdain, no more can she sit unmoved at the voice 
of my complaint. 

^ A reference to the Electra of Sophocles, where Orestes 
returns home under a false name bearing an urn supposed to 
contain his ashes. 

101 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER TI 

atque utinam non tarn sero mihi nota fuisset 

condicio ! cineri nunc medicina datur. 
ante pedes caecis lucebat semita nobis : ' 

scilicet insano nemo in aniore videt. 
hoc sensi prodesse magis : contemnite, amantes ! 

sic hodie veniet, si qua negavit heri. 20 

pulsabant alii frustra dominamque vocabant: 

mecuni habnit positum lenta piiella caput, 
haec mihi devictis potior victoria Parthis^ 

haec spolia, haec reges, haec mihi currus erunt. 
magna ego dona tua figam, Cytherea, columna, 

taleque sub nostro nomine carmen erit : 

HAS PONO ANTE TVAS TIBI^ DIVA, PROPERTIVS AEDES 
EXVVIAS, TOTA NOCTE RECEPTVS AMANS. 

nunc ad te, niea lux, veniet mea litore navis 

servata. an mediis sidat onusta vadis ? 30 

quod si forte aliqua nobis mutabere culpa, 
vestibulum iaceam mortuus ante tuum ! 

XV 

O ME felicem ! o nox milii Candida ! et o tu 

lectule deliciis facte beate meis ! 
quani multa apposita narramus verba lucerna, 

quantaque sublato lumine rixa fuit ! 
nam modo nudatis mecum est luctata papillis, 

intcrdum tunica duxit operta moram. 
ilia meos somno lassos patefecit ocellos 

ore suo et dixit " Sicine, lente, iaces ? 

102 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

^5 And would that her terms of peace had not been 
made known to me so late ! To dust and ashes now 
this healing is given. The way shone clear before 
my feet ; but men love-maddened one and all are 
blind. 

^® This I have found to be the sovereign cure : 
lovers, disdain your loves I So, if she have refused 
you yesterday, she will come to your arms to-day. 
Others in vain beat at my mistress' door and called 
her by name ; but unmoved she laid her head upon 
my breast. Dearer to me this victory than the 
conquest of Parthia: be these my spoils, my captive 
kings, my triumphal car. Rich offerings, Cytherea, 
will I fix on the pillars of thy shrine, and such shall 
be the verse beneath my name : these spoils, o 

GODDESS, I PROPERTIUS HANG BEFORE THY SHRINK; FOR 
ONE WHOLE NIGHT LONG MY MISTRESS TOOK ME TO HER 

HEART. Now, Cynthia, shall my bark come safe home 
to thee — or is it doomed to sink with all its wares 
in shoal-water.?^ Nay, if thou change toward me 
through any foult of mine, may I lie dead before thy 
threshold ! 

XV 

How happy is my lot ! O night that was not dark 
for me ! and thou beloved couch blessed by my 
delight ! How many sweet words we interchanged 
while the lamp was by, and how we strove together 
when the light was gone ! For now she struggled 
with me with breasts uncovered, now veiling herself 
in her tunic checked my advance. With a kiss she 
unsealed mine eyes weighed down with slumber and 
said: "Dost thou lie thus, thou sluggard?" How 

' /.c, iu siglit of shore. 

103 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
qiiam vario amplexu mutamus bracchia ! quanUim 

oscula sunt labris nostra morata tuis ! 10 

non iuvat in caeco Venerem coiTumjjere motu : 

si nescis^ ociili sunt in amore duces, 
ipse Paris nuda fertur periisse Lacaena, 

cum Menelaeo surgeret e thfilamo ; 
nudus et Endymion Plioebi cepisse sororem 

dicitur et nudae concubuisse deae. 
quod si pertendens animo vestita cubaris/ 

scissa veste nieas experiere manus : 
quia etiam, si me ulterius provexerit ira, 

ostendes matri bracchia laesa tuae. 20 

necdam inclinatae prohibent te ludere mammae : 

viderit haec, si qiiam iam peperisse pudet. 
dum nos ffita sinunt, oculos satiemus amore : 

nox tibi longa venit. nee reditura dies, 
atque utinam haerentes sic nos vincire catena 

velles, ut numquam solveret ulla dies ! 
exemplo vinctae tibi sint in amore columbae, 

masculus et totum femina coniugium. 
errat, qui fin em vesani quaerit amoris : 

verus amor nullum novit habere morlum. 30 

terra prius falso partu deludet arantes, 

et citius nigros Sol agitabit equos, 
fluminaque ad caput incipient revocare liquores, 

aridus et sicco gurgite piscis erit, 
quam possim nostros alio transferre dolores : 

huius ero vivus, mortuus huius ero. 

I cubaris Muretus : cubares O. 
104 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

oft we shifted our arms and varied our embrace ; how 
long my kisses lingered on thy lips ! 

^1 There is no joy in spoiling love's delights by 
sightless motion : know^ if thou knowest it not, that 
in love the eyes are guides. Paris hinaself is said to 
have been undone by love when he saw the Spartan 
naked, as she rose from the couch of Menelaus. 
Naked was Endymion when he impassioned Phoebus' 
sister, and naked they say he lay with the naked 
goddess. 

^' But if thou hardenest thine heart and wilt lie 
clothed, thou shalt have thy raiment rent and feel 
the violence of my hands. Nay more, if anger carry 
me further yet, thou shalt show thy mother how 
thine arms are bruised. Not yet do drooping breasts 
forbid thee to make merry ; that be her care that hath 
borne a child and counts it shame. While the Fates 
grant it, let us glut our eyes with love : the long 
night hasteneth on for thee that knows no dawning. 
And oh ! that thou wouldst bind us in this embrace 
with such a chain that never the day might come to 
break its power ! Be doves thine example : they are 
yoked together in love, male and female made one 
by passion. He errs that seeks to set a term to the 
frenzy of love ; true love hath no bound. Sooner 
will earth mock the ploughman by bearing fruit out 
of season, and the Sun-god drive the steeds of night, 
rivers begin to recall their waters to their fount,"the 
deep dry up and leave its fish athirst, than I shall 
be able to transfer to another my love with all its 
woe ; hei's will I be in life and hers in death. 



105 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

quod mihi si tecum tales concedere noctes 

ilia velit, vitae longus et annus erit. 
si dabit haec multas, fiam immortalis in illis : 

nocte una quivis vel dens esse potest. 40 

qualem si cuncti cuj)crent decurrere vitam 

et pressi multo membra iacere mero, 
non ferrum cnulele neque esset bellica navis, 

nee nostra Actiacum verteret ossa mare, 
nee totiens propriis circum oppugnata triumpliis 

lassa foret crines solvere Roma suos. 
haec certe merito poterunt laudare minores : 

laeserunt nullos pocula nostra deos. 
tu modo, dum lucet, fructum ne desere vitae ! 

omnia si dederis oscula, pauca dabis. 50 

ac veluti folia arentes liquere corollas, 

quae passim ealathis strata natare vides, 
sic nobis, qui nunc magnum speramus amantes, 

forsitan includet craslina fata dies. 



XVI 

Praetor ab Illyricis venit modo, Cynthia, terris, 

maxima praeda tibi, maxima cura mihi. 
non potuit saxo vitam posuisse Cerauno .'' 

a, Neptune, tibi qualia dona darem ! 
nunc sine me plena fiunt convivia mensa, 

nunc sine me tota ianua nocte patet. 
quare, si sapis, oblatas ne desere messes 

et stolidum pleno vellere carpe pecus ; 
]06 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

^' But if she be willing again to grant me such 
nights as lastj one year will be long life for me. If 
she give me many, they will make me immortal ; 
one such night might make any man a god ! 

*i Ah ! if all men desired to pass their life as I, 
and lie with limbs weighed down by deep draughts 
of wine, nor cruel steel would there be nor ships of 
war, nor would our bones be tossed in the deep of 
Actium ; nor would Rome, so oft beleaguered with 
triumphs o'er her own kin, be weary of tearing her 
hair for grief. This at least shall those that come 
after be able to praise in us : our wine-cups never 
outraged any god. 

*^ Cynthia, do thou only while the light is yet 
with thee forsake not the joy of life ! Give me all 
thy kisses, yet shall they be all too few ; and us 
leaves drop from withered wreaths and thou mayst 
see them bestrew the cups and float therein, so we 
that love and whose hopes are high perchance shall 
find to-morrow close our doom. 



XVI 

Of late, Cynthia, a praetor came from the land of 
Illyria, to thee the hugest plunder, to me the hugest 
care. Could he not have lost his life by the Ceraunian 
rocks .'' Ah, Neptune, what gifts would I have given 
thee ! 

^ Now feasts are spread on laden tables, and I am 
not there ! Now all night long thy door stands open, 
but not for me ! Wherefore, if thou art wise, neglect 
not the harvest offered thee and pluck thy stolid beast, 
while yet his fleece is whole ! Then when his gifts are 

107 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

deinde, iibi consumpto restabit muncre pauper, 

die alias iterum navi2;et Illvrias ! 10 

Cynthia non scquitur fasces nee curat honores, 

semper amatorum poiiderat una sinus, 
at tu nunc nostro, Venus, o succurre doloii, 

runipat ut assiduis membra libidinibus ! 
ergo muncribus quivis mercatur amorem ? 

luppiter, indigtia merce puelbx perit. 
semper in Oceanum mittit me quaerere genimas, 

et iubet ex ipsa tollere dona Tyro, 
atque utinam Romae nemo esset dives, et ipse 

straminea posset dux habitare casa ! 20 

numquam venales essent ad munus amioae, 

atque una fieret cana puella domo. 
numquam septenas noctes seiuncta cubares,^ 

Candida tam foedo braccliia fusa viro, 
non quia peccarim (testor te), sed quia vulgo 

forniosis levitas semper amica fuit. 
barbarus exclusis ^ agitat vestigia lumbis — 

et subito felix nunc mea regna tenet ! 
aspice quid donis Eri phyla invenit amaris, 

arserit et quantis nupta Creusa malis. 30 

nullane sedabit nostros iniuria fletus ? 

an dolor hie vitiis nescit abesse tuis ? ^ 
tot iam abiere dies, cum me nee cura theatri 

nee tetigit Campi, nee mea mensa iuvat. 
at pudeat certe, pudeat ! — nisi forte, quod aiunt, 

turpis amor surdis auribus esse solet. 

1 luunqnam . . . cubares Itali: non quia . . . cuhni-is AF 

2 excussis r. 3 luis r : suis JVF. 

108 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPEllTIUS BOOK II 

spent and he left poor^ bid him set sail again to fresh 
111 \ lias. 

^^ Cynthia follows not the rods of office^ cares 
naught for honours ; her lovers' purse she ever 
weighs as none other can. But do thou, Venus, aid 
me in my grief; let his Insatiate lusts break all his 
strength. 

^^ So then shall any stranger purchase her love with 
gifts .'' Jove ! 'tis an unworthy thing that such traffic 
should have power to corrupt the heart of woman. 
Ever she sends me to the marge of ocean to seek 
her gems, and bids me bring gifts from Tyre itself. 
Would that no men at Rome were wealthy and that 
our lord and master himself dwelt in a thatched^ 
cottage. Never then would one's mistress sell 
herself for a gift, but girls woidtl grow grey in the 
house of one only lover. Never wouldst thou lie far 
from me for seven nights long, thy white arms lapped 
about so foul a lover ; nor dost thou thus because I 
have sinned — to that I call thee to testify — but 
because the fair are ever faithless. 

2^ A barbarian shut out from bliss ^ stamps at thy 
door, and lo ! of a sudden a blessing falls on him and 
now he rules where I once reigned supreme. 

2^ See what bitter woe gifts bronnht to Eriphyla, 
and in what agony the bride Creusa burjied ! Will all 
the wrong thou dost me ne'er assuage my tears ? or 
must this grief of mine attend thy sins for ever ? So 
many days have past away since the theatre and the 
Campus lost all charms for me, and my table ceased 
to please. Yet truly shame, yea, shame should set 
me free ! But, perchance, as men say, dishonourable 

1 An allusion to the so-called casa JRomuli, preserved on the 
Palatine. Cp. IV. I. 9. 2 If excussia . . . lumbis be read, 

translate " worn out by his lusts." 

109 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
cerne ducem, motlo qui fremitu complevit inani 

Actia damnatis aequora militibus : 
hunc infamis amor versis dare terga carinis 

iussit et extremo quaerere in orbe fugam. 40 

Caesaris haec virtus et gloria Caesaris haec est : 

ilia, qua vicit, condidit arma manu. 
sed quascumque tibi vestes, quoscumque smaragdos, 

quosve dedit flavo lumine chrysolithos, 
haec vidcam raj)idas in vanum ferre procellas : 

quae tibi terra, veliui, quae tibi fiat aqua, 
non semper placidus periuros ridet amantes 

luppiter et surda neglegit aure preces. 
vidistis toto sonitus percurrere caelo, 

fulminaque aetheria desiluisse domo : 50 

non haec Pleiades faciunt neque aquosus Orion, 

nee sic de nihilo fulminis ira cadit; 
periuras tunc ille solet lumire puellas, 

deceptus quoniam flevit et ipse deus. 
quare ne tibi sit tanti Sidonia vestis, 

ut timeas, quotiens nubilus Auster erit. 



XVII 

Mentiri noctem, promissis ducere amantem, 
hoc erit infectas sanguine habere nianus ! 

horum ego sum vates, quotiens desertus amaras 
explevi noctes, fi-actus utroque toro. 

110 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 11 

love is ever deaf. Behold the chief, who of late 
filled the waves of Actium with the fruitless groaning 
of the soldiers he dragged down to death ! 'Twas 
infamous love bade him wheel his ships and turn his 
back to the foe and seek flight in the utmost bounds of 
earth. This is Caesar's claim to virtue, this Caesar's 
claim to glory ; the hand that conquered sheathed 
the sword in peace. 

"*' But, oh that I may see all his gifts, the fine 
raiment, the emeralds and the yellow-gleaming 
chrysolite, borne by swift storms into empty space ; 
may they become vile earth or water in thy hands ! 
Not always does Jove calmly laugh at lovers' perjuries 
and turn a deaf ear to prayer. Thou hast perceived 
the thunderclap run through all the sky, and the 
levin bolt leap from its airy home. 'Tis neither 
the Pleiades nor dark Orion that bring these things 
to pass ; 'tis not for nothing that the wrath of the 
lightning falls. 'Tis then that Jove is wont to punish 
faithless girls, since he also once wept for a woman's 
treachery. Wherefore count not thy Sidonian 
raiment worth 'jhe terror thou must feel whene'er 
the South Wind rolls up clouds of storm. 



XVII 



To make a false tryst for a night, to beguile a lover 
with promises, why, 'tis to have his blood upon thy 
hands. These sorrows do I sing, as oft as I pass 
lonely nights of bitterness, anguished to think of 
how thou liest, and how I. 



Ill 



SEXTI PROPERTl ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

v6l tu Tantalea moveare ad flumina sorte, 

ut liquor arenti fallat ab ore sitim ; 
vel tu Sisyphios licet admirere labores, 

dillicile ut toto nionte volutet onus; 
durius in terris nihil est quod vivat amante, 

nee, modo si sapias, quod minus esse velis. 10 

quern modo felicem invidia admirante ferebant, 

nunc decimo admittor vix ego quoque die. 
nunc iacere e duro corpus iuvat, impia, saxo, 

sumere et in nostras trita venena manus ; 
nee licet in triviis sicca requiescere luna, 

aut per rimosas mittere verba fores, 
quod quamvis ita sit, dominam mutare cavebo : 

tum flebit, cum in me senserit esse fidem. 

XVIII 1 

AssiDVAE multis odium peperere querelae : 

frangitur in tacito femina saepe viro. 
si quid vidisti, semper vidisse negato ! 

aut si quid doluit forte, dolere nega ! 

XVIIIa 

QviD mea si canis aetas canesceret annis, 
et faceret scissas languida ruga genas ? 

at non Tithoni spernens Aurora senectam 
desertum Eoa passa iacere domo est : 

^ I have given these verses, rrhich, as Rossherg pointed out are 
alien to their context, the rank of a separate elegy. 

112 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

^ Be thou smitten with compassion for the fate of 
Tantalus at the waterside^ when thou seest how the 
water sinks from his parched mouth and mocks his 
thirst; or marvel at the toil of Sisypluis, how he 
rolls his stubborn burden up all the mountain slope; 
yet know that there is naught on earth more suffering 
than a lover, nor aught a wise man would less wish 
to be. I who was once accounted happy, I whom 
men envied and admired, I now have entry scarce 
every tenth day. Now gladly, impious maid, would 
I cast myself from some hard rock or take distilled 
poison into my hands. No more can I lie in the 
streets beneath the cold, clear moon nor cry my words 
.through the chinks of thy door! 

^' Yet though these things be so, I will have a care 
not to change my mistress ; then will she weep, when 
she feels that I am true. 

XVIII 

Continued complainings beget disgust in many a 
heart ; oft doth a silent lover bend a woman's will. 
If ^ught thou hast espied, deny thou sawest aught, 
or if aught perchance hath pained thee deny the 
pain ! 

XVIIIa 

What if my youthful prime were white with the 
white hair of eld, and drooping wrinkles furrowed 
my cheeks .'' 

' Tithonus was old, yet Aurora despised him not, 
nor suffered him to lie lonely in the chambers of the 



H 113 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

ilium saepe suis decedens fovit in undis 

qiiam prius adiunctos sedula lavit eqiios ; 1 

ilium ad vicinos cum amplexa quiesceret Indos, 

maturos iterum est questa redire dies; 
ilia deos currum conscendens dixit iniquos, 

invitum et terris praestitit officium. 
cui maiora senis Tithoni gaudia vivi, 

quam gravis amisso Memnone luctus erat. 
cum sene non puduit talem dormire puellam 

et canae totiens oscula ferre comae, 
at tu etiam iuvenem odisti me, perfida, cum sis 

ipsa anus baud longa curva futura die. ! 

quin ego deminuo curam, quod saepe Cupido 

huic malus esse solet, cui bonus ante fuit. 

XVIIIb 1 

Nvxc etiam infectos demens imitare Britaniios, 

ludis et externo tincta nitore caput .'' 
at natiira dedit, sic omnis recta figura est : 

turpis Romano Belgicus ore color, 
illi sub terris fiant mala multa puellae, 

quae mentita suas vertit inepta comas ! 
deme : mihi certe poteris formosa vidcri ; 

mi formosa satis^, si modo saepe venis. 
an si caeruleo quaedam sua tempora fuco 

tinxerit, idcirco caerula forma bona est .'' 
cum tibi nee frater nee sit tibi filius ullus, 

frater ego et tibi sim filius unus ego. 

1 Separated from the preceding by Kuinoel. 
114 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

East. Oft as she departed did she caress him amid 
the waves where she hatli her home, or ever turning 
to her task she washed her yoked steeds, and when 
nigh Ind she laid her down to rest in his embrace she 
made moan that day returned too soon. As she 
cUmbed her ear she cried, " High heaven is un- 
kind," and offered unwilHng service to the world. 
Deeper her joy, while old Tithonus lived, than heavy 
her grief when Memnon perished. So fair a maid as 
she had no shame to sleep beside an aged man, nor 
to heap kisses on his hoary locks. 

^^ But thou, faithless, liatest me for all my youth, 
though thyself at no far distant day shalt be a 
stooping crone. Still my care grows less when I 
remember that Cupid oft frowns on him to whom 
of old he was so kind. 



XVIIIb 

Even now, mad girl, dost ape the painted Briton 
and wanton with foreign dyes upon thy cheek ? 
Beauty is ever best as nature made it ; foul shows 
the Belgian rouge on Roman cheeks. May many 
an ill befall the maid in hell, that in her folly dyes 
her hair with lying hue. Away with these things ! 
I at least shall find thee fair ; fair enough art thou 
to me if only thou visit me often. If one stain her 
brows with azure dye, does that make azured beauty 
fair ? 

^^ Thou hast no brother nor any son, wherefore 
let me and me alone be to thee at once both 
brother and son. Let thine own bed ever keep thee 



115 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

i[)se tuus semper tihi sit custodia lectus, 
iiec nimis ornata fronte sedere velis. 

credam ego narrauti^ noli cominitterc^ famae : 
et terrain rumor transilit et maria. 



XIX 

Etsi me invito discedis, Cynthia, Roma, 

laetor quod sine me devia rura colis. 
nullus erit castis iuvenis corruptor in agris, 

qui te blanditiis non sinat esse prol)ani ; 
nulla neque ante tuas orietur rixa fenestras, 

nee tibi clamatae somnus amarus erit. 
sola eris et solos spectabis, Cynthia, montcs 

et pecus et fines pauperis agricolae. 
illic te nuUi poterunt corrumpere ludi, 

fanaque peccatis plurima causa tiiis. 10 

illic assidue tauros spectabis arantes, 

et vitem docta ponere falce comas ; 
atque ibi rara feres inculto tura sacello, 

liaedus ubi agrestes corruet ante focos ; 
protinus et nuda choreas imitabere sura ; 

omnia ab externo sint modo tuta viro. 
ipse ego venabor : iam nunc me sacra Di mae 

suscipere et V^eneri ponere vota iuvat. 
incipiam captare feras et reddere pinu 

cornua et audaces ipse monere canes ; 20 

non tamen ut vastos ausim temj)tare leones 

aut celer agrestes comminus ire sues. 
116 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

safe from scandal, nor sit thou with face too much 
adorned. I shall believe tales that rumour tells 
of thee ; therefore sin not; scandal o'erleaps the 
bounds of land and sea. 



XIX 

Though, Cynthia, 'tis against my will that thou 
departest from Rome, glad am I that 'tis in the 
country far from paths of man thou dwellest with- 
out me. In those chaste fields thou shalt find no 
seductive youth whose flatteries shall not permit 
thee to be honest, nor shall any brawl arise before 
thy windows, nor shall thy slumber be made bitter 
by cries upon thy name. Lone shalt thou dwell and 
oti lone mountains gaze, on flocks and the lands of 
poor farmers. There will no games have power to 
corrupt thee, no temples, most frequent cause of all 
thy sins ; there shalt thou behold the tireless oxen 
plough, and the vine lay aside her foliage at the 
sickle's skilful touch, and there shalt thou bear 
a scanty offering of incense to some rude shrine, 
where the kid shall fall before a rustic altar; then 
bare-legged shalt thou imitate the country dance, if 
only there be no danger from the espial of some 
town-bred man. 

^'' I myself will hunt; now straightway 'tis my 
joy to perform sacrifice to Diana, my vows to Venus 
laid aside. I will begin to snare wild beasts, to nail 
trophies of horns to the pine-tree, and with mine 
own voice urge on the bold hounds ; yet would I 
never dare to assail the lion fell, or with speedy 
foot go face the wild boar of the field. Daring 

117 



SRXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
haec igitur mihi sit lepores audacia molles 

excipere et stricto figere avem calamo, 
qua formosa suo Clitumnus flumina luco 

integitj et niveos abluit unda boves. 
tu quotiens aliquid conabere, vita, memento 

venturum paucis me tibi Luciferis. 
sic me nee solae potenmt avertere silvae, 

nee vaga muscosis flumina fusa iugis, i 

quin ego in assidua mutem tua nomina lingua: 

absenti nemo non nocuisse velit. 

XX 

QviD fles abducta gravius Briseide ? quid fles 

anxia captiva tristius Andromacha ? 
quidve mea de fraude deos, insana, fatigas ? 

quid quei'eris nostram sic cecidisse fidem ? 
non tarn nocturna volucris funesta querela 

Attica Cecropiis obstrepit in foliis, 
nee tantum Niobe bis sex ad busta superba ' 

sollicito lacrimas defluit a Sipylo. 
me licet aeratis astrin<jant bracchia nodis, 

sint mea vel Danaes condita membra domo, 1 
in te ego et aeratas rumpam, mea vita, catenas, 

ferratam Danaes transiliamque domum. 
de te quodcumque ad surdas mibi dicitur aures : 

tu modo ne dubita de gravitate mea. 
ossa tibi iuro per matris et ossa parentis 

(si fallo, cinis heu sit mihi uterque gravis !) 

1 superba Beroaldut : superbe NF. 
118 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

enough for me to catch the timid hare^ or pierce 
birds with arrows from the quiver, where Clitumnus 
shrouds his fair streams in his own beloved grove, 
and with his waters laves the snow-white kine. 

2' Do thou^my love, oft as thou meditatest aught, 
remember that I shall be with thee in a few more 
dawns. So as thou rememberest this, neither the 
lonely woods nor the wandering streams upon the 
mossy hills can stay me from repeating thy name 
with tireless tongue ; for one and all are ready to 
wrong an absent lover. 



XX 

Why weepst thou more bitterly than Briseis torn 
from Achilles' side ? Why weepst with anxious eyes 
more sadly than captive Andromache ? Or why, mad 
girl, weariest thou the ears of the gods with complaint 
of my perfidy ? Why moanest thou that my loyalty 
to thee has sunk so low ? Not so shrilly does the 
mourning bird of Attica make her moan embowered 
in Cecropian leafage, not so does proud Niobe 
by twice six tombs stream tears down sorrowing 
Sipylus. 

^ Though my arms were bound with gyves of 
bronze, though my limbs were immured in Danae's 
tower, yet for thy sake, my life, would I break bonds 
of brass and leap o'er the iron walls of Danae's tower. 
My ears are deaf to all men say of thee ; only do thou 
likewise doubt not my steadfastness. By my mother's, 
by my father's bones I swear — if I lie, may either 
ghost take vengeance on me ! — that I will abide true 



119 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

me tibi ad extreraas mansurum, vita, tenebras : 

ambos una fides auferet, una dies, 
quod si nee nomen nee me tua forma teneret, 

posset servitium mite tenere tuum. 20 

septima iam plenae deducitur orbita lunae, 

cum de me et de te compita nulla tacent: 
interea nobis non iiumquam^ ianua mollis, 

non numquam^ lecti copia facta tui. 
nee milii muneribus nox uUa est empta beatis : 

quidquid eram, hoc animi gratia magna tui. 
cum te tarn multi peterent, tu me una petisti : 

possum ego naturae non meminisse tuae ? 
turn me vel tragicae vexetis Erinyes, et me 

inferno damnes, Aeace, iudicio, 30 

atque inter Tityi volucres mea poena vagetur, 

tumque ego Sisyphio saxa labore gerani I 
nee tu supplicibus me sis venerata tabellis : 

ultima talis erit quae mea prima fides, 
hoc mihi perpetuo ius est, quod solus amator 

nee cito desisto nee temere incipio. 



XXI 

A QVANTVM de me Panthi tibi pagina finxit, 
tantum illi Pantho ne sit amica Venus I 

sed tibi iam videor Dodona verior augur, 
uxorem ille tuus pulcher amator habet ' 

^ non numquam F : non unquam N. 
120 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

to thee, my life, until darkness close my day ; one 
selfsame love, one selfsame hour, shall sweep us both 
away. 

1^ But if neither the glory of thy name nor thy 
beauty kept me true, yet would the mildness of thy 
yoke do so. The seventli full moon has spun its course 
since every street corner hath been speaking of me 
and thee, and all this time not seldom hath thy door 
been kind, not seldom have I been admitted to thy 
bed. Yet not a night have I bought with sumptuous 
gifts ; whate'er I have been in thine eyes, I owe to 
thy goodwill ; great is my debt. Many sought thee, 
but thou hast sought me only ; can I forget the 
kindness of thy nature .? If I do, may ye. Furies of 
tragedy, plague me, and thou, Aeacus, pass on me the 
doom of hell. May my penalty be one of Tityus' 
ranging vultures, and may I carry rocks Avith labour 
worthy Sisyphus. 

^^ But do thou beseech me no more with suppliant 
tablets : my loyalty shall be at the close what it was 
when it began. Herein forever am I justified : alone 
of lovers I neither rashly begin nor rashly end my 
love. 



XXI 

Ah, deep as the falsehoods Panthus has told thee of 
j me be Venus' displeasure against Panthus. Yet, to- 
day thou deemst me a prophet truer than Dodona's 
shrine. That goodly lover of thine hath taken him 



121 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

tot noctcs periere ? nihil pudet ? aspice^catitat 

liber : tu niinium credula, sola iaces. 
et nunc inter eos tu sermo es^ te ille superbus 

dicit se invito saepe fuisse domi. 
dispeream, si quicquam aliud quam gloria de te 

quaeritur : has laudes ille maritus habet. 10 

Colchida sic hospes quondam decepit lason : 

eiecta est (tenuit^ namque Creusa) domo, 
sic a Dulichio iuvene est elusa Calypso : 

vidit amatorem pandere vela suuni. 
a nimium faciles aurem praebere puellae, 

discite dcsertae non temere esse bonac ! 
huic quoque, qui restet,^ iam pridem quaeritur alter : 

experta in prime, stulta, cavere potes. 
nos quocumque loco, nos omni tempore tecum 

sive aegra pariter sive valente sumus. 20 



XXII 

Scis here mi multas pariter placuisse puellas; 

scis mihi, Demoj)lioon, multa venire mala, 
nulla meis frustra lustranlur compita plantis ; 

o nimis exitio nata theatra meo, 
sive aliquis molli diducit Candida gestu 

bracchia, seu varios incinit ore modos ! 
interea nostri quaerunt sibi vulnus ocelli, 

Candida non tecto pectore si qua sedet, 

1 tenuit r : tenuis NFL. 

s restet Phillimore : restat AFL. 

122 



i 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

a wife ! Have so many nights been spent in vain ? 
Hast thou no shame? See, he is free and sings for 
joy; thou once too credulous now liest lonely; and 
now the twain speak amongst themselves of thee; 
he scornfully says that thou oft didst visit his house 
against his will. May 1 perish if he aims at aught 
else than to triumph for his conquest of thee : such 
is the praise that he the husband wins. 

*^ So of old the stranger Jason deceived the maid 
of Colchis : she was cast forth from her home, for 
Creusa held her room. So was Calypso tricked by 
the Dulichian youth : she saw her lover spread his 
sails for flight. Ye maids, o'erprone to lend an ear 
to lovers, learn, left forlorn, not rashly to be kind. 

^^ Yet for days thou hast been seeking another, who 
shall be faithful ! Fool, the lesson thou hadst from 
the first should have taught thee caution ! My heart, 
where'er I be, whate'er the hour, in sickness and in 
health, is with thee still. 



XXII 

Thou knowst that yesterday many a beauty pleased 
my impartial eyes ; thou knowst, Demophoon, that 
thence springs many an ill for me. No street is 
there that my feet range in vain. Alas ! the 
theatre was made too oft to be my doom, wliether 
some beauty spreads out white arms with volup- 
tuous motion, or poui-s from her lips a varied strain 
of song. And all the while mine eyes seek their 
own hurt, if some fair one sits with breast unveiled, 



123 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
sive vagi crines piiris in (Vontibus errant, 

Indica quos medio vertice gemma tenet. 10 

quae si forte aliquid vultu mihi dura negarat, 

frigida de tota fronte cadebat aqua, 
quaeris, Demophoon, cur sim tarn mollis in omnis ? 

quod quaeris, "quare" non habet uUus amor, 
cur aliquis sacris laniat sua bracchia cultris 

et Phrvffis insanos caeditur ad iiumcros .'' 
uni cuique dedit vitium natura ci'eato : 

mi fortuna aliquid semper amare dedit. 
me licet et Thamyrae cantoris fata sequantiir, 

numquam ad formosas, invide, caecus ero. 20 

sed tibi si exiles videor tenuatus in artus, 

falleris : baud umquam est culta labore Venus, 
percontere licet : saepe est expertiv puella 

officium tota nocte valere meum. 
luppiter Alcraenae geminas requieverat Arctos, 

et caelum noctu bis sine rege fuit ; 
nee tamen idcirco languens ad fulmina venit : 

nullus amor vires eripit ipse suas. 
quid, cum e complexu Briseidos iret Acbilles .'' 

nuni ^ fugere minus Tliessala tela Phryges .'' 30 
quid, ferus Andromachae lecto cum surgeret Hector ? 

bella Mycenaeae non timuere rates ? 
ille vel hie, classes poterant vel perdere muros : 

hie ego Pelides, hie ferus Hector ego. 
aspice uti caelo modo sol modo luna ministret: 

sic etiam nobis una puella parum est. 
1 uum FL : non N. 
124. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

or if her wandering locks stray o'er a snowy brow, 
clasped at the crown with an Indian gem. And 
if perchance by her look she said me nay in 
aught, cold streams of sweat streamed from all my 
brow. 

^3 Dost thou ask, Demophoon^ why my heart is so 
tender to one and all ? Love knows not the mean- 
ing of thy question "Why.?" Why do some gash 
their arms with sacred knives, and cut tlieir limbs 
to the sound of the Phrygian pipe ? To each at 
birth nature allotted a vice ; to me fortune allotted 
the doom that I should ever be in love. Though 
the fate of Thamyras the singer come upon me, 
never, my grudging friend, will I be blind to 
beauty, 

21 But if to thee my limbs seem shrunk and thin, 
thou errest ; it has ne'er been a hardship to me to 
serve Venus. 'Tis a lawful question ; often a girl has 
found my passion covild outlast the hours of night, 
Jove for Alcmena's sake made the stars of the Bear 
to slumber two nights long, and heaven twice was 
kingless through the dark ; yet he was not therefore 
faint when he returned to the thunderbolt. Never 
doth love exhaust its own strength. What befell 
when Achilles came from Briseis' embrace ? Did the 
Phrygians fly the less from the Thessalian's shafts .'' 
When fierce Hector rose from Andromache's bed, 
did not Mycenae's fleet tremble at the battle ? 
Either hei-o could overthrow or ships or walls ; I 
will be Achilles, or fierce Hector in the strife of 
love. 

^^ See how 'tis now the moon and now the sun that 
serve the sky ! Even so for me one love will not 



125 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

altera me cupidis teneat fovcatque lacertis, 
altera si quando non sinit esse locum ; 

aut si forte irata meo sit facta ministro, 

ut sciat esse aliam, quae velit esse mca ! 40 

nam melius duo defendunt retinacula navim, 
tutius et geminos anxia mater alit. 

XXIIaI 

AvT si cs dura^ nega : sin es non dura, venito ! 

quid iuvat at ^ nullo poncre verba loco ? 
hie unus dolor est ex omnibus acer amantij 

speranti subito si qua venire ncgat. 
quanta ilium toto versant suspiria lecto, 

cum recipi; quern non noverit ille, necat !^ 
et rursus puerum quaerendo audita fatigat, 

quern, quae* scire timet, quaerere fata iubet. 50 

XXIII 

Cvi fuit indocti fugienda haec ^ semita vulgi, 
ipsa petita lacu nunc mihi dulcis aqua est. 

ingenuus quisquam alterius dat muncra servo, 
ut j)romissa suae verba ferat dominae ? 

et quaerit totiens " Quaenam nunc porticus illam 
integit ? " et " Campo quo movet ilia pedes ? " 

1 Separated from the preceding by Renaissance scholars. 

2 at Bachrens : et NFL. 

3 cuiiiv; CUT NFL. quern r : quae NFL. necsit IIeinsiu<! : 
vetat NFL. * quern quae F: quae quoque L : om. N. 

5 haec r : et NLF. 

126 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

suffice. If one receive me not, let another hold me 
and cherish me in passionate embrace ; or if she be 
angered with my service of her, let her know that 
there is another who will gladly be mine. For a 
ship is safer when two cables hold it, and an anxious 
mother, if she rear twins, has less to dread. 



XXIIa 

Say " No ! " if thou art unkind ; or, if kind thou 
art, then come ! But why take delight in waste of 
random words ? 'J'his grief alone of all doth rack 
the lover's heart, if his mistress fails his hopes and 
comes not to the tryst. What sighs shake his frame 
as he tosses o'er all his couch, when the thought that 
now some unknown lover is admitted torments him 
even to death ! Again and again he wearies his slave 
by asking, what he has heard already, and bidding 
him seek news of the fate he dreads to learn. 



XXIII 

I THAT once thought fit to shun this path trod by 
the vulgar herd, now find pleasure even in a draught 
from the common tank. \\'ill any free-born man give 
money to another's slave to bring him the promised 
message of his mistress, and ask forever, " What 
shady colonnade now shields her from the sun ? " 
or " Whither wend her footsteps on the Campus 
Martius?" 



127 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
deinde, ubi pei'tuleris, quos dicit fama labores 

Herculis, ut scribat " Muneris ecquid habes?" 
cernere uti possis vultum custodis amari, 

captus et immunda saepe latere casa, 10 

quam care seniel in toto nox vertitur anno ! 

a pereant, si quos ianua clausa iuvat ! 
contra, reiecto quae libera vadit amiclu, 

custodum et nullo sacpta timore, placet ? 
cui saepe immundo Sacra conteritnr Via socco, 

nee sinit esse moram, si quis adire velit; 
difFeret haec numquam, nee poscet garrula, quod te 

astrictus ploret saepe dedisse pater, 
nee dicet " Tiraeo, propera iam surgere, quaeso : 

infelix, hodie vir mihi rure venit." 20 

et quas Euphrates et quas mihi misit Orontes, 

me iuerint : nolim furta pudica tori ; 
libertas quoniam nulli iam restat amanti : 

si quis liber erit, nullus^ amare volet. 

XXIV 

" Tv loqueris, cum sis - iam noto fabula libro 

et tua sit toto Cynthia lecta foro ? " 
cui non his verbis aspergat tempora sudor ? 

aut pudor ingenuuSj aut reticendus amor ? 
quod si tarn facilis spiraret Cynthia nobis, 

non ego nequitiae dicerer esse caput, 

1 si quia . . . nullus Foster: uullua . . . si quis NFL. 

2 sisT: sit NFL. 
128 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

' And then, when thou hast endured all the Her- 
culean labours whereof fame tells, to receive a letter 
saying, " Hast thou any present for me ? " or to win 
the privilege of facing a scowling guardian, or oft lie 
hid a prisoner in some foul hovel, how costly is the 
night of joy that comes but once in the whole 
year ! Perish the lovers that prefer the secrecy of 
closed doors ! 

13 On the other hand, she that walks at large, her 
cloak cast back from her head, and gladdens the eye, 
hedged in by no threatening guardian, she who treads 
the Sacred Way in loose shoes besmirched with mire, 
and suffers no delay if any accost her, she will never 
put thee off, nor ask in chattering voice for that 
which thy niggard father will complain he has given 
so oft. She will not say : " I am afraid : haste thee, 
rise, I pray thee : unhappy man, 'tis to-day my husband 
returns from the country." Let the girls, that Eu- 
phrates and Orontes have sent for my delight, be all 
my joy: I hate those shamefaced thefts of love. 
Since no lover hath any freedom left him, no man 
that would be free will seek to love. 



XXIV 

" DosT thou talk thus, when thy book has become 
famous and made thee the talk of all the town, and 
thy Cynthia is read in all the furum } " Whose brow, 
that heard such words as these, would not be bathed 
in sweat, whether for honest modesty or for the 
shameful secret of his love ? And yet if Cynthia 
siniled on me, as once she smiled, I should not now 
be called the crown of wantonness ; my name would 



ii!y 



sp:xti properti elegiarVxVi liber II 

nee sic per totam infamis tratlucerer urbem, 
urerer et q nam vis non bene,^ verba davcni. 

quare ne tibi sit mirum me quaerere viles : 

parcius infamant : num tibi causa levis ? 10 

2 

• • • • • 

et modo pavonis caudae flabella superbae 

et manibus dura frigus habere pila, 
et cupit iratum talos me poscere eburnos, 

quaeque nitent Sacra vilia dona Via. 
a peream, si me ista movent dispendia, sed ^ me 

fallaci dominae iam pudet esse iocum ! 



XXIVa^ 

Hoc erat in priniis quod me gaudere iubebas ? 

tarn te formosam non pudet esse levem ? 
una aut altera nox nondum est in amore peracta, 

et dicor lecto iam gravis esse tuo. 20 

me modo laudabas et carmina nostra legebas : 

ille tuus pennas tarn cito vertit amor ? 
contendat raecum ingenio, contendat et arte, 

in primis una discat amare domo : 
si libitum tibi erit, Lernaeas pugnet ad hydras 

et tibi ab Hesperio mala dracone i'erat, 
taetra venena libens et naufragus ebibat undas, 

et numquam pro te deneget esse miser : 

1 urerer S" : ur»iret NFL. non bene Housmaii: nomine NFL 
- Some verses have clearly been lost here. 3 sed S": si ^FL 
* 17-52 separated by Scaliger. 

J 30 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 11 

not now be draggled in dishonour through all the 
town, and though my heart still burned with no 
seeml}' fire, still would I cheat the world. 

^ Wherefore wonder not that now I seek common 
women ; they are more sparing in slandei'. Seems 
that a trifling reason in your eyes ? . . , [A7id ihey 
are so expensive. Cynthia noiv asks me for some coslli/ 
jewel;] now demands a fan made from some proud 
peacock's tail, and would cool her hands by holding 
a hard ball of crystal ; she angers me by bidding me 
demand ivory dice for her, and such worthless gifts 
as glitter in the Sacred Way. And yet, confound 
me if 1 grudge the expense ! But now I am ashamed 
to be the laughing-stock of my faithless mistress ! 



"XXIVa 

Cynthia, was this the hope thou didst bid me 
cherish when oar love began ? Art not thou 
ashamed, being so fair, to be so fickle? Not yet 
have we spent one or two nights in love, and 
already thou tellest me I am irksome to thy couch. 
But now thou didst praise me and didst read my 
songs ; does thy love so soon turn his wings to fiy 
elsewhere ? 

^^ Let thy lover strive against me in wit and poetic 
skill, and first of all things let him learn to confine 
his love to one house only; if it be thy pleasure, 
let him fight with Lernaean hydras, and fetch thee 
apples from the guardianship of the Hesperian 
dragon; let him drink gladly of foul poisons, or, 
shipwrecked, the sea wave, and never refuse to be 
wretched for thy sake (ah that thou wouldst prove 



131 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
(quos utinam in nobis, vita, experiare labores !) 

lam tibi de timidis iste protervus erit, .^0 

qui nunc se in tumidum iactando venit honoreui : 

discidium vobis proximus annus erit. 
at me non aetas mutabit tota Sibyllae, 

non labor Alcidae, non niger ille dies, 
tu mea compones et dices " Ossa, Propc rti, 

haec tua sunt : eheu tu mihi certus eras, 
certus eras eheu, quamvis nee sanguine avito 

nobilis et quamvis non ita ^ dives eras." 
nil ego non patiar, numquam me iniuria mutat : 

ferre ego formosam nullum onus esse puto. 40 

credo ego non paucos ista periisse figura, 

credo ego sed multos nou habuisse fidcm. 
parvo dilexit spatio Minoida Theseus, 

Phyllida Deniophoon, hospes uterque malus. 
iam tibi lasonia nota est Medea carina 

et modo servato ^ sola relicta viro. 
dura est quae multis simulatum fingit amorem, 

et se plus uni si qua parare potest, 
noli nobilibus, noli conferre beatis : 

vix venit, extremo qui legat ossa die. 50 

hi tibi nos erimus : sed tu potius precor ut me 

demissis plangas pectora nuda comis. 

1 uou ita Fontanus : navita NFL. 

2 servato N : om. FL. 



1.32 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

n:e, my beloved, with such tasks as these !), and soon 
thou shalt find him a tremblina; coward that is now 
so forward, that by boasts of prowess has attained 
his proud place of honour in thy heart ; next year 
shall see you pai-ted. But a Sibyl's whole lifetime 
shall never alter my love, no, nor Alcides' toil, nor 
the dark hour of death. Thou shalt compose my 
ashes, and shalt say : " These are thy bones, Pro- 
pertius ; ah ! but thou wast true to me I Ah ! thou 
wast true, though sprung from no noble ancestry nor 
so rich as that other." I will suffer all things for 
thee ; thy wrongs ne'er change my love ; to endure 
one so fair is to me no burden. 

*^ Many, I trow, have been smitten by thy fair 
form ; but many, I trow, have broken troth with thee. 
It was but for a brief space that Theseus loved the 
daughter of Minos, that Demophoon adored Phyllis, 
a faithless pair of guests. Thou knowest well Medea 
borne on Jason's bark, and then left forlorn by the 
husband she but lately saved. 

*^ Ci'uel is she that feigns false love for many, and 
has the heart to deck herself for many eyes. Com- 
pare me not with the noble and wealthy : scarce one 
of them shall come to gather up thine ashes at the 
end of all. I shall perform that duty for them ; but 
rather I pray that thou maycst bewail me with bared 
bosom and thine hair unbound. 



1S3 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 



XXV 

Vnica nata meo puleherrima cura dolori, 

excludit quoniam sors mea " saepe veni/* 
ista meis fiet notissima forma libellis. 

Calve, tua venia, pace, Catulle, tua. 
miles depositis annosus secubat ai'mis, 

grandaevique negant ducere aratra boves, 
putris et in vacua requiescit navis harena, 

et vetus in templo bellica parma vacat : 
at me ab aniore tuo deducet nulla senectus, 

sive ego Tithonus sive ego Nestor ero. 
nonne fuit satius duro servire tyranno 

et gemere in tauro, saeve Perille^ tuo ? 
Gorffonis et satius fuit obdurescere vultu, 

Caucasias etiam si pateremur aves. 
sed tamen obsistam. teritur robigine mucro 

ferreus et parvo saepe liquore silex : 
at nullo dominae teritur sub limine amor, qui 

restat et immerita sustinet aure minas. 
ultro contemptus rogat, et peccasse fatetur 

lacsus, et invitis ipse redit pedibus. 
tu quoque, qui pleno fastus assumis amore, 

credule, nulla diu feniina pondus habet. 
an quisquam in mediis persolvit vota })rocellis, 

cum saepe in portu fracta carina natet ? 
aut prius infecto deposcit praemia cursu, 

septima quam metani triverit ante rota ? 
1S4. 



10 



20 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 



XXV 

1 Hou beyond all women born to be, most fair, the 
burden of mine anguish, since mine ill late debars 
me from the words " Come and come often ! ' ' my 
books shall make thy beauty known above all other; 
only do thou, Calvus, and thou, Catullus, grant me 
that this may be. 

^ The soldier bowed with years sleeps no longer 
by the weapons he hath laid aside ; oxen grown 
old refuse to draw the plough ; the crumbling ship 
rests on the empty sands, and idle on the temple 
wall hanscs the warrior's ancient shield. But never 
shall old age sunder me from love of thee, though 

1 be old as Tithonus or as Nestor old. Were it 
not better to be a cruel tyrant's slave and groan 
within thy bull, savage Perillus ? Better were it to 
turn to stone before the Gorgon's gaze or to endure 
the vultures of Caucasus. Yet will I persist. The 
blade of steel is eaten by rust, and drops of water 
oft wear down the flint. But the thi*eshold of no 
mistress can wear down that love that abides firm 
and endures to listen to threats it has never deserved. 
Nay, the lover even answers disdain Avith supplica- 
tions, and wrong with the confession that 'twas him- 
self that sinned, and oft returns he with reluctant 
feet. 

21 Thou too, credulous lovei', that waxest proud 
because thy love is at the full, know that no woman 
has solid worth for long. Does any man perform 
his vows in mid-tempest, when many a ship swims 
shattered even m port ? Or does any man demand 
the prize ere first for the seventh time the wheel hath 

135 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

mendaces ludunt flatus in amore secundi : 

si qua venit sero, magna ruina venit. 
tu tamen interea, quamvis te diligat ilia, 

in tacito cohibe gaudia clausa sinu. SO 

namque in amore suo semper sua maxima cuique 

nescio quo pacto verba nocere solent. 
quamvis te persaepe vocet, semel ire memento : 

invidiam quod habet, non solet esse diu. 
at si saecla forent antiquis grata puellis, 

essem ego quod nunc tu : tempore vincor ego. 
non tamen ista meos mutabunt saecula morrs : 

unus quisque sua noverit ire via. 
at;, vos qui offieia in multos revocatis amores, 

quantum sic cruciat lumina vestra ^ jolor ! 40 

vidistis pleno teneram candore purliam, 

vidistis fusco, ducit ^ uterque color ; 
vidistis quandam Argivam })Vodente ^ figura, 

vidistis nostras, utraque forma rapit. 
illaque plebeio vel sit sandycis amictu : 

luiec atque ilia mali vulneris una via est. 
ciun satis una tuis insomnia portet ocellis, 

una sit et cuivis femina multa mala. 

XXVI 

ViDi te in soninis fracta, mea vita, carina 
lonio lassas ducere rore manus, 

^ vestra r: nostra NFL. " ducit ^V; dulcis Z'; lucus /,. 

^ Argivam Baehi-ens : argiva NFL. protlente FL : prodire N. 

136 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

grazed the goal ? Deceitful is the play of the prosper- 
ing gales of love ; the passion that comes late in time 
brings with it mighty ruin. Yet do thou meanwhile, 
though she love thee, keep thy joys close within thy 
silent breast. For in love 'tis ever his own words 
that, how I know not, do the lover greatest hurt. 
Though oft she summon thee, have a care to go 
but once : that which is envied endures but for a 
little while. 

^^ But should the times return that pleased the 
maids of old, I should be what thou now art ; 'tis this 
vile age has conquered me. Yet these ill times shall 
never alter my heart : let each man have the wit to 
go his own way. 

^^ But ye that bid a man serve many loves, if thus 
ye live, what agony torments your eyes ! Ye see a 
tender maid of Avhitest hue, or again another of darker 
brilliance : either hue attracts the eye. Ye see a girl 
whose form betrays the Greek, or, again, our Roman 
beauties ; either beauty allures. Though she be 
clothed in plebeian garb or in robes of scarlet, 'tis 
by one and the same path that either cruel Avound 
is dealt. Since one love can keep thine eyes from 
sleep long time enough, one woman were a host oi 
ills for any man. 



XXVI 

In my dreams I saw thee, light of my life, ship- 
wrecked strike out with weary hands through the 
Ionian waves. I saw thee confess all thy falsehood 



137 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

et quaecumque in me fueras mentita fateri, 

nee iam umpre graves tollere posse comas, 
qualem purpureis agitatam fluctibus Hellen, 

aurea quam molli tergore vexit ovis. 
quam timui, ne forte tuum mare nomen haberet, 

atque tua labens navita fleret aqua ! 
quae tum ego Neptuno, quae turn cum Castore 
fratri, 

quaeque tibi excepi, iam dea, Leucotlioe ! 10 

at tu vix primas extollens gurgite palmas 

saepe meum nomen iam peritura vocas. 
quod si forte tuos vidisset Glaucus ocellos, 

esses lonii facta puella maris, 
et tibi ob invidiam Nereides increpitarent, 

Candida Nesaee, caerula Cymothoe. 
sed tibi subsidio delphinum currere vidi, 

qui, })utOj Arioniam vexerat ante lyram. 
iamque ego conabar summo me mittere saxo, 

cum mihi discussit talia visa metus. 20 



XXVIa 1 

NvNc admircntur quod tam mihi pulchra puella 
serviat et tota dicar in urbe })otens ! 

non, si Cambysae redeant et flumina Croesi, 
dicat " De nostro surge, poeta, toro." 

1 Separated hy Burmann. 
138 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

toward me and sink, unable to lift thine hair weighed 
down Avith brine, like Helle tossed upon the purple 
waves, whom once the sheep of gold bore on its sort 
back. How I feared, lest perchance that sea should 
take thy name, and the mariner might weep for thee 
as he sailed th}'^ waves ! What vows to Neptune did 
I then make, what vows to Castor and his brother 
and thee, Leucothoe, once mortal, now a goddess ! 
But thou, scarce raising thy finger-tips over the sur- 
face of tlie deep, didst oft, as one that soon must 
jDerish, call upon my name. 

^^ But if perchance Glaucus had espied thine eyes, 
thou hadst become a maid of the Ionian sea, and the 
Nereids would have chidden thee for envy, white 
Nesaee and azure Cymothoe. But I saw a dolphin 
hasten to thine aid, the same methinks that once 
bore Arion's lyre. I was even then striving to cast 
myself from the rocky height when terror dispelled 
the vision. 



XXVIa 

Now let men wonder that so fair a maid is my slave, 
and that all the city tells of my power ! 7'hough a 
Cambyses should return and the rivers of Croesus, 
never would she say, " Rise, poet, from my bed." For 



139 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
nam niea cum recitat, (licit se odisse beatos : 

carmina tarn sancte nulla puella colit. 
multum in amore fides, muUum constantia prodest : 

qui dare multa potest, multa et amare potest, 
seu mare per longum mea cogitet ire puella, 

banc sequar, et fidos una aget aura duos ; 
unum litus erit sopitis unacjue tecto 

ar])or, et ex una saepe bibemus aqua ; 
et tabula una duos poterit componere ainanlis, 

prora cubile niilii seu niihi puppis erit. 
omnia perpetiar : saevus licet urgeat Eurus ; 

velaque in incertum frigidus Auster agat ; 
quicumque et venti miserum vexastis Vlixen, 

et Danaum Euboico litore mille rates ; 
et qui movistis duo litora, cum ratis Argo 

dux erat ignoto niissa columba mari. 
ilia meis tantum non umquam desit ocellis, 

incendat navcm luppiter ipse licet, 
certe isdem nudi pariter iactabimur oris : 

me licet unda ferat, te modo terra tegat. 
sed non Neptunus tanto crudelis amori, 

Nejitunus fratri par in amore lovi. 
testis Amymone, latices dum ferret, in arvis ^ 

compressa, et Lernae pulsa tridente palus. 
iam deus amplexu votum persolvit, at illi 

aurea divinas urna profudit aquas, 
crudelem et Borean rapta Oritliyia negavit : 

I'.ic deus et terras et maria alta domat. 
1 dum N : cum FL. arvis : Argis S", perhaps rightly 



30 



40 



50 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

when she repeats my verse, she says that she hates 
wealthy suitors ; no other maid does such reverent 
honour unto song. Fidelity in love is of much avail, 
of much avail is constancy ; he that can make many 
a gift can have full many a love. 

2^ Does my love think of sailing long leagues of 
sea, I will follow her. One breeze shall waft us on, 
a faithful pair, one shore shall give us rest when 
we sink in slumber, one tree overshadow us, and oft 
shall we drink from the selfsame spring. One plank 
shall yield a couch to lovers twain, whether my bed 
be strewn by prow or stern. I will endure all things, 
though the wild East Wind drive our bark and the 
South's chill blast sweep our sails, whither we know 
not ; though all ye winds should bloAv that once tor- 
mented the hapless Ulysses and wrecked the thousand 
ships of Greece on Euboea's shore, and ye also that 
parted the two shores, when the dove was sent to 
Argus to guide his bark over an unknown sea. If 
only she be never absent from my sight, let Jove 
himself fire our ship ! For surely our naked corpses 
will be cast together upon the same shore ; let the 
wave sweep me away, if only thou find burial in 
earth. 

^^ But Neptune frowns not on love strong as ours ; 
Neptune was Jove his brother's equal in the field of 
love. Witness Amymone, that in the meadows yielded 
to his embrace, that so she might find the fountain ; 
witness Lerna's marsh smitten by the trident. Then 
did the god redeem his promise at the price of his 
embrace, and straightway for her an urn of gold 
poured forth a stream divine. Orithyia also denied 
that Boreas, the ravisher, was cruel ; this god tames 
both earth and the deeps of ocean. Believe me, Scylla 



141 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
crede mihi, nobis mitescet Scylla, nee umquam 

alternante vacans ^ vasta Charybdis aqua ; 
ipsaque sidera erunt nullis obscura tenebris, 

pur us et Orion, purus et Haedus erit. 
quid mihi si ponenda tuo sit corpore vita ? 

exitus hie nobis non inhonestus erit. 



XXVII 

At vos incertam, mortales, funeris horam 

quaeritis, et qua sit mors aditura via ; 
quaei-itis et caelo, Phoenicum inventa, serene, 

quae sit stella homini commoda quaeque mala ! 
seu pedibus Parthos sequimur seu classe Britannos^ 

et maris et terrae eaeca pericla viae, 
rursus et obiectum Hes tu capiat esse tumultu ^ 

cum Mavors dubias miscet utrimque manus ; 
praeterea domibus flammain domibusque ruinas, 

/neu subeant labris pocula nigra tuis. 10 

Solus amans novit, quando periturus et a qua 

morte, neque hie Boreae flabra ncque anna 
timet, 
lam licet et Stygia sedeat sub havundine remex, 

cernat et infernae tristia vela ratis : 
si modo clamantis revocaverit aura puellae, 

concessum nulla lege redibit iter. 

1 vacans Aijrmann : vorans^^FX. 

2 ties tu Ilousman: fletus N: tlemus FL. caput NF : capiti 
L. tumultu cod. Mus. Brit. 23766: tumultum NFL. 

142 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

will grow kind for us, and wild Charybdis also, that 
ceases never from her ebb and flow. Nor shall any 
dai'kness obscure the stars. Clear shall Orion be, 
and clear the Kid. Nay, what if I should breathe 
my last upon thy body ! No dishonour will be mine 
in such an end as this. 



XXVII 

Yet do ye mortals inquire after the uncertain hour 
of death, and of the path by which your doom shall 
drav/ anigh, and in the unclouded heaven ye seek 
by the art the Phoenicians found of old what star is 
good, what star is ill for man. Whether on foot we 
follow the flying Parthian or with our fleet attack 
the Briton, blind are the perils both by land and sea. 
And again thou weepest that thy life is threatened 
by the storm of war, when Mars on this side and on 
that mingles the wavering ranks ; thou dreadest also 
fire for thy house and ruin, and tremblest lest thou 
put cups of dark poison to thy lips. The lover only 
knows when and by what death he shall perish, and 
fears nor weapons nor blasts of the North Wind. Yea, 
even though he sit at the oar among the reeds of 
Styx and gaze on the dismal sails of the boat of hell, 
if the faint whisper of his mistress' voice cry out and 
call him back from the dead, he will return over that 
road that the eternal ordinance hath sealed. 



143 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

XXVIII 

IvppiTER, affectae tandem miserere puellae ; 

tam formosa tuum mortua crimen erit. 
venit enim tempus, quo torridus aestuat aer, 

incipit et sicco fervere terra Cane, 
sed non tam ardoris culpa est neque crimina caeli, 

quam totiens sanctos non habuisse deos. 
hoc perdit miseras, hoc perdidit ante puellas : 

quidquid iurarunt, ventus et unda rapit. 
num ^ sibi collatam doluit Venus ? ilia peracque 

prae se formosis invidiosa dea est. 10 

an contempta tibi lunonis templa Pelasgae ? 

Palkdis aut oculos ausa negare bonos ? 
semper, formosae, non nostis parcere verbis. 

hoc tibi lingua nocens, hoc tibi forma dedit. 
sed tibi vexatae j)cr multa pericula vitae 

extremo venit mollior hora die. 
lo versa caput primes mugiverat annos : 

nunc dea, quae Nili flumina vacca bibit. 
Ino etiam prima terris aetate vagata est : 

banc miser implorat navita Leucothoen. 20 

Andromede monstris fuerat devota marinis : 

haec eadem Persei nobilis uxor erat. 
Callisto Arcadios erraverat ursa per agros : 

haec nocturna suo sidere vela regit, 
quod si forte tibi properarint fata quietem, 

ilia sepulturae fata beata tuae, 

1 11 um FL : non iV. 
144 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

XXVIII 

Jupiter, at length have pity on my mistress, stricken 
sore ; the death of one so fair will be accounted to 
thee for a crime. For the season has come when 
the scorching air seethes with heat and earth begins 
to glow beneath the parching Dog-star. But 'tis not 
so much the fault of the heat, nor hath heaven so 
much the blame for her illness, as that so oft she 
hath spurned the sanctity of the gods. This is it that 
undoes hapless girls, aye, and hath undone many ; 
wind and water sweep away their every oath. 

^ Was Venus vexed that thou wast compared with 
her? She is a jealous goddess to all alike, that vie 
with her in loveliness. Or didst thou spurn the temple 
of Pelasgian Juno, or deny that Pallas' eyes were 
fair } Ye beauties, never have ye learned to spare 
your words ; C3'nthia, thou owest this to thine offend- 
ing tongue and to thy beauty. But anguished as thou 
hast been through many a deadly peril, at last hath 
come an hour of greater ease. So lo wore a strange 
guise and lowed all her earlier years ; but now she 
is a goddess, that once drank Nilus' waters in like- 
ness of a cow. Ino also wandered o'er the earth in 
her prime ; but now she is called Leucothoe, and 'tis 
on her the hapless sailor calls for aid. Andromeda 
was doomed to the monsters of the deep, yet even 
she became the far-famed wife of Perseus. Callisto 
wandered as a bear over the fields of Arcadia ; now 
with her own star's light she guides the sails of 
mariners through the dru'k. 

^^ Yet if it chance that the Fates hasten down 
on thee the eternal rest, the Fates of funeral made 

U 145 



^ 



SEXTI PROPKRTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

narrabis Semelae^ quo sit foimosa periclo, 

credet et ilia, suo docta puella malo ; 
et tibi Maeonias omnes heroidas inter 

primus crit nulla non tribuente locus. 30 

nunc, utcumque potes, fato gere saucia morcm : 

et deus et durus vertitur ipse dies, 
lioc tibi vel poterit coniunx ignoscere Juno : 

frangitur et Juno, si qua puella perit. _ -^ ^ I' 

^ deficiunt magico torti sub carmine rhonibi, 

et iacet exstincto laurus adusta foco ; 
et iam Luna negat totiens descendere caclo, 

nigraque funestum concinit omen avis, 
una ratis fati nostros portabit amores 

caerula ad infernos velificata lacus, 40 

sed 2 non unius quaeso, miserere duorum ! 

vivam, si vivet : si cadet ilia, cadam. 
pro quibus optatis sacro me cai'mine damno : 

scribam ego " Per magnum est salva puella Io\ cm" ; 
ante tuosque pedes ilia ipsa operata sedebit, 

narrabitque sedens longa pericla sua. 

XXVI ILv 3 

Haec tua, Persephone, maneat dementia, ncc tu, __ 
Persephonae coniunx, saevior esse velis. 

sunt apud infernos tot milia fonnosarum : 

pulclira sit in supei'is, si licet, una locis I i 

1 A new defiy in N/x, no break in FL. 

•> seri N : si FL. 

3 i^eiparaUd by Lachmann. 

146 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

blest for thee^ thou shalt tell Semele what dangers 
beauty brings ; and she, taught by her own misfor- 
tune, will believe thee : and among all the Maeonian 
heroines thou by consent of all shalt have the fore- 
most place. Now as best thou may, bear thyself 
reverently towards destiny on thy couch of pain ; 
heaven and the cruel hour of death alike may change. 
Even JunOj the jealous wife, will forgive thee for 
thy beauty ; even Juno is touched with pity for a 
maiden's death. 

25 Now cease the wheels ^ Avhirled to the magic 
chant, the altar fire is dead and the laurel lies in ashes. 
Now the moon refuses to descend so oft from heaven, 
and the bird of night sings ominous of death. One 
murky boat of destiny shall bear our loves together, 
setting sail to the pools of Hell. But pity not one 
only, I pray thee, Ju|)iter; pity the twain of us. If 
she lives, I will live ; if she dies, I too will die. Where- 
fore if my prayer be granted I bind myself Avitli this 
solemn verse, to write : the might of jove hath 
SAVED MY ]\iisTRESs ; and she herself after she hath 
sacrificed to thee Avill sit before thy feet, and seated 
there will tell of the long perils she has passed. 



XXVIIIa 

Persephone, may thy mercy endure, nor mayestthou, 
that hast Persephone for spouse, be over-cruel. There 
are so many thousand beauties among the dead ; let 
one fair one, if so it may be, abide on earth. With 

1 The rhombus is probably an instrument known as a " bull- 
roarer," still used by savage tribes. It consists of a perforated 
piece of wood attached to a string : when whirled round it 
emits a loud booming souud. 

14.7 



SEXTI PROPEKTl ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

vobiscum est lope, vobiscum Candida Tyro, 

vobiscum Europe nee proba Pasiphae, 
at quot Troia ^ tulit vetus et quot Acliaia formas, 

et Phoebi et Prianii diruta regna senis : 
et quaecunique erat in nuniero Roniaiia puclla, 

occidit : has omnes ignis avarus habet. 
nee forma aeternum aut cuiquam est fortuna 
perennis : 

longius aut propius mors sua quemque manet. 
tu quoniam es, mea lux, magno dimissa periclo, 

munera Dianae debita redde choros, ()0 

redde etiam excubias divae nunc, ante iuvencae ; 

votivas noctes et mihi solve decern. 

XXIX 

Hesterna, mea lux, cum potus nocte vagarer, 

nee me servoi'um duceret ulla manus, 
obvia nescio quot pueri mihi turba minuta 

venerat (hos vetuit me numerare timor) ; 
quorum alii faculas, alii retinere sagittas, 

pars etiam visa est vincla parare mihi. 
sed nudi fucrant. quorum lascivior unus, 

" Arripite hunc," inquit, " iam ^ bene nostis cum : 
hie crat, hunc mulier nobis irata locavit.'' 

dixit, et in collo iam mihi nodus erat. 10 

hie alter iubet in medium propellere, at alter, 

" Intereat, qui nos non putat esse deos ! 



* Troia NFL, perhaps corrupt : Phthia Uuschke. 
« iam N : nam PL. 



148 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

you is lope, with you snowy Tyro, Avith you Europe 
and impious Pasiphae, and all the beauties that 
Troy and Achaea bore of old, Troy the fallen realm 
of Phoebus and the old man Priam. And all the 
fair, that Rome may rank with these, have perished : 
all these the greedy pyi-e hath taken for its own. 
Neither beauty nor fortune abideth everlastingly for 
any ; sooner or later death awaiteth all. 

^* Since then, light of mine eyes, thou hast escaped 
from mighty peril, render Diana the dance tliou owest 
for offering ; and as is due, keep vigil in honour of 
her who, once a heifer, is now a goddess, and on my 
behalf pay her ten nights of worship. 



XXIX 

Yesternight, light of mine eyes, when I wandered 
heavy with wine and with never a servant's hand to 
lead me home, a crowd of tiny boys met me ; how 
many I know not, for fear forbade me count them. 
Some carried little torches and others arrows, while 
some seemed even to make ready fetters for me. Yet 
naked were they all. Then one that was more wanton 
than the rest cried : " Seize him, for ye know liim well 
of old. This is he tliat the angry woman delivered 
to us." He spake, and straightway a noose was about 
my head. Another then bade them thrust me into 
their midst, while a third cried : " Perish the man that 
deems us not divine ! Whole hours hath she waited 



14-g 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

haec te non meritum tolas exspectat in horas : 

at tu nescio quas quaeris, inepte, fores, 
quae cum Sidoniae nocturna ligamina mitrae 

solvent atque oculos movcrit ilia graves, 
afflabunt tibi non Arabum de grainine odores, 

sed quos ipse suis fecit Amor manibus. 
jiarcite iam^ fratres, iarn certos spondet amores ; 

et iam ad niandatam venimus ecce domum." 9.0 
atque ita me in tectum duxerunt rursus amicae : ^ 

" I nunc et noctes disce manere domi." 

XXIXa2 

Mane erat, et volui, si sola quiesceret ilia, 

visere : at in lecto Cynthia sola fuit. 
obstipui : non ilia mihi formosior umquam 

visa, neque ostrina cum fuit in tunica, 
ibat et hinc castae narratum sonmia Vestae, 

neu sibi neve mihi quae nocitura forent : 
talis visa mihi somno dimissa recenti. 

heu quantum per se Candida forma valet ! SO 

" Quid ? ^ tu matutinus," ait " speculator amicae, 

me similem veslris moribus esse putiis ? 
non ego tarn facilis : sat erit mihi cognitus unus, 

vel tu vel si quis vcrior esse potest, 
apparent non ulla toro vestigia prcsso, 

signa volutantis "^ nee iacuisse duos. 

1 ill tectum duxerunt . . . amicae G. Fischer: in Iccto 
duxerunt . . . amictu NF7, 2 Separated by Gayetus. 

3 quid r: quod NFL. 4 volutantis L: voluntatis NF. 

150 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

thee, though little thou deservest it, while thou, fool, 
didst seek another's door. When she has loosened 
the strings of lier nightcap of Sidonian purple and 
turns on thee her slumber-laden eyes, then will sweet 
odours breathe upon thee such as the herbs of Araby 
ne'er gave, but Love himself made with his own hands. 
Spare him now, brothers ; now he pledges that his love 
shall be true : and lo ! we have come to the house 
whither we were bidden." Thus did they lead me 
back to my mistress' house. " Go now," they cried, 
" and learn to stay at home of nights." 



XXIXa 

'TwAS morn and I wished to see if alone she took 
her rest, and behold Cynthia was in her bed alone. 
I stood amazed ; for never seemed she to mine eyes 
more fair, not even when, clad in purple tunic, she 
went to lay her dreams before chaste Vesta, for fear 
some ill might threaten herself and me. So seemed 
she to me, as she woke from her fresh slumber. 
Ah, how great is the power of beauty unadorned! 
" What !" quoth she, "thou that spiest thus early on 
thy mistress, deemst thou that my ways are like to 
thine } I am not so fickle : 'tis enough for me to 
know one lover such as thee, or one perchance of 
truer love than thine. There are no signs of impress 
on the couch, the marks of lovers taking their delight, 
no signs that two have lain therein. See ! from my 



151 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
aspice ut in toto nullus milii corpore surgat 

spiritus admisso notus adulterio." 
dixit, et op})osita propellens savia dextra 

prosilit in laxa nixa pedem solea. 40 

sic ego tarn sancti custos retrudor ^ amoris : 

ex illo felix nox - mihi nulla fuit. 



XXX 

NvNc tu, duve,^ paras Phrvgias nunc ire per undas 1 9 

et petere Hyrcani litora nauta ^ maris ? 20 

[spargere et ^ alterna communis caede Penates 2 1 

et ferre ad patrios praemia dira Lares r] 22 

quo fugis a demens ? nulla est fuga : tu licet usque 1 

ad Tanain fugias, usque sequetur Amor, 
non si Pegaseo vecteris in acre dorso, 

nee tibi si Persei moverit ala pedes ; 
vel si te sectae rapiant talaribus aurae, 

nil tibi Mercurii proderit alta via. 
instat semper Amor supra caput, instat amanti, 

et gravis ipse super libera colla sedet. 
?xcubat ille acer custos et tollere numquam 

te patietur humo lumina capta semel. 10 

et iam si pecces, deus exorabilis ille est, 

si modo praesentes viderit esse preces. 

^ custos 5": custode NL: custodis F. retrudov Postf/ate : 
rfcludor ]V: rector FL. 2 nox S" : non IVFL. 

3 dure cod. vd. Beroahli: dun FL : non tamen immeritoiV. 

4 nauta Ilertzberg : nota JS'FL. 

fi spargere et iV"; spargereque /''i. 

152 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

bosom springs no deei^-drawn breath, that, as thou 
knowest, might tell thee that I had been untrue." 
She spake, and with her right hand resisted and 
thrust away my kisses, and leapt forth from the bed, 
loose slippers on her feet. So was I rebuffed, that 
sought to watch o'er her, that kept her love so pure ; 
since then no happy night has e'er been mine. 



XXX 

Hard-hearted, dost thou now make ready to cross the 
Phrygian waves, and on shipboard seek the shores 
of the Hyrcanian sea? [to sprinkle our common 
household gods with mutual slaughter and bring 
dread prizes to the home of thy fathers ?'] ^ 

^ Whither fliest thou, mad heart ? There is no 
escape. Fly as far as Tanais ; Love will hunt 
thee down. Thou shalt not escape, though thou be 
borne aloft on the back of Pegasus, nor though the 
pinions of Perseus wing thy feet. Or should the 
cloven breezes sweep thee along on feathered 
sandals, yet will the lofty path of Mercury avail 
thee naught. Love swoops ever above thy head ; 
Love swoops down upon the lover, and sits a heavy 
burden on the neck that once was free. He is a 
watcher that slumbers not nor sleeps, nor ever will 
he suffer thee to raise thine eyes from off the 
ground when once he has enslaved them; and yet 
shouldst thou go astray, he is a god whom prayers 
may appease, if he but see that they are prompt to 

1 19, 20 placed before 1,2 by Housman ; the same critic 
marks 21, 22 as alien to the context, and suggests that they 
should follow I. XXII. 8. 



153 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBKR II 
ista senes licet accusant convivia duri : 

nos modo propositum, vita, teramus iter, 
illorum antiquis onerantur legibus aures : 

hie locus est in quo, tibia docta, sones, 
quae non iure vado Maeandri iacta natasti, 

turpia cum faceret Palladis ora tumor. 1 8 

una contentum padeat me vivere amica ? 23 

hoc si crimen erit, crimen Amoris erit : 
mi nemo obiciat. libeat tibi, Cynthia, mecuni 

rorida muscosis antra tenere iugis. 
illic aspicies scopulis haerere Sorores 

et canere antiqui dulcia furta lovis, 
ut Semela est combustus, ut est deperditus lo, 

denique ut ad Troiae tecta volarit avis ; SO 

(quod si nemo exstat qui vicerit Alitis anna, 

communis culpae cur reus unus agor ?) 
nee tu Virginibus reverentia moveris ora : 

hie quoque non nescit quid sit amare chorus ; 
si tamen Oeagri quaedam compressa figura 

Bistoniis olim rupibus accubuit. 
hie ubi te ^ jirima statuent in parte choreae, 

et medius docta cuspide Bacchus erit, 
tum cajvti sacros patiar pendere corj'mbos : 

nam sine te nostrum non valet ingenium. 4U 

1 te r : lue 0. 



134 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

rise. Let stern old men denounce those revels of 
love ; only let us, my life, pursue our chosen path. 
Their ears are burdened with the precepts of anti- 
quity ; but this is the place where thou, skilled pipe, 
shouldst sound, thou that of old didst float along 
Maeander's shallows, where unjustly thou wast cast 
when thou didst swell the cheeks of Pallas and mar 
the fairness of her face.'- 

2"^ Shall I feel shame to live content in the service 
of one mistress? If this be a crime, to Love's door 
shall the crime be laid ; let no one charge me there- 
with ! And, Cynthia, be it thy joy to dwell with me in 
dewy grottoes on the mossy hills. There shalt thou 
see the Sisters clinging to the crags, while they chant 
the sweet loves of Jove in olden time, how he was 
consumed with fire for Semele, how madly he loved 
loj and then how in likeness of a bird he flew to the 
abodes of Troy. (But if none hath e'er had strength 
to o'ercome the might of the winged one, why am 
I alone accused of the crime that all must share ?) 
Nor shalt thou, Cynthia, grieve the demure faces of 
the Holy Maids ; even their choir knows what it is to 
lo\ e, if it be true that for all their chastity a certain 
Muse lay upon the rocks of Bistonia locked in the arms 
of one that seemed Oeagrus. And there, when they 
shall place thee in the foremost rank of their dance, 
and Bacchus stands in the midst with his wand of skill, 
then will I suffer the holy ivy berries to hang about 
my head ; for without thee my wit availeth naught. 

1 Minerva first made a pipe of bone and played upon it; 
but, catching sight of hev reflection in the Maeander, she per- 
ceived that her cheeks puffed out to play disfigured her beauty, 
and cast the pipe into the stream. 



155 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

xxxn 

QvAERis, cur veniam tibi tardior ? aurea Plioebi 

Porticus a magno Caesare aperta fuit ; 
tanta erat in specicm Poenis digest a coliimnis, 

inter quas Danai fcniina turba senis. 4 

turn medium claro surgebat marmore tempi um, J) 

et patria Phoebo carius Ortygia : 1 

et duo Solis erant - supra fastigia curriis ; 

et valyae . Libyci nobile dentis opus, 
altera deiectos Parnasi vertice Gallos, 

altera maerebat funera 'iantalidos. 
deinde inter matrem deus ipse interque sororem 

Pythius in longa carmina veste sonat. ifi 

hie equidem Phoebo visus mihi pulchrior ipso 5 

marmoreus tacita carmen hiare lyra : 6 

atque aram circum steterant armenta Myionis, 7 

quattuor artificis, vivida signa, boves.^ 8 

XXXII 4 

Qvi videt, is peccat : qui tc non viderit ergo, 
non cupiet : facti lumina crimen^ habent. 

nam quid Praenesti dubias, o Cynthia, sortes, 
quid petis Aeaei moenia Telegoni ? 

^ A new elegy in /j., no break in XFL. 

2 etduo . . . Gvawt Hertzberrj : et quo . . . erat NFL. 

3 5-8 transposed to follow IG by Dousa. 

4 No break in NFL, separated by Beroaldns. 
s lumina crimen 5" : crimiua lumen NFL. 

156 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 



XXXI 

Thou askest why I am late in coming to thee. 
To-day was the golden colonnade of Phoebus opened 
by mighty Caesar ; so vast it was to view, laid out 
with Punic columns,^ betAveen which stood the many 
daughters of the old man Danaus. Next in the midst 
of all, the temple rose built of shining marble and 
dearer to Phoebus than his Ortygian home. And on 
the topmost roof were two chariots of the Sun, and 
the doors were of Libyan ivory wrought in wondrous 
wise. One told the fearful tale of the Gauls hurled 
down from off Parnassus' peak,^ and one the death of 
the daughter of Tantalus. And last between his 
mother and his sister stood the Pythian god him- 
self, clad in long raiment, his voice uplifted in song. 
Fairer he seemed to me than Phoebus' self, as he 
sang with silent lyre and parted lips of stone. And 
round about the altar stood Myron's kine, four 
counterfeit oxen, statues that seemed to live. 



XXXII 

Who sees thee sins : he then that hath not seen 
thee will not desire thee : 'tis the eyes must bear 
the blame. Else why at Praeneste seekst thou 
oracles of double import ? Why seekst thou the 
walls of Aeaean Telegonus ? Why does thy chariot 

1 I.e., of Punic marble : yellow marble stained with red, now 
known as giallo antico. 

2 In 278 B.C. the Gauls attacked Delphi, but were driven 
oft by storm and earthquake. Cp- III. Xlll. 51-54. 

157 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

cur tua ie ^ Herculeum deportant esseda Tibur ? 

Appia oui- totiens te via Lanuvium ? ^ 
hoc utinam spatiere loco, quodcumque vacabis, 

Cynthia ! sed tibi me credere turba vetat, 
cum videt accensis devotam currere taedis 

in nemus et Triviae lumina ferre deae. 10 

scilicet umbrosis sordct Ponipcia columnis 

Porticus, aulaeis uobilis Attalicis, 
et platanis crebcr pariter surgentibus oido, 

tiumina sopito quaeque Marone cadunt, 
et leviter njanphis tota crepitantibus urbe 

cum subito Triton ore recondit aquam. 
falleris, ista tui furtum via monstrat amoris : 



non urbem, demens, lumina nostra fugis 



nil agis, insidias in me componis inanes, 

tendis iners docto retia nota mihi. HO 

sed de me minus est : famae iactura pudicae 

tanta tibi miserae, quanta meretur,^ erit. 
nuper enim de te nostras maledixit ^ ad aures 

rumor, et in tota non bonus urbe fuit. 
sed tu non debes inimicae ci'edere linguae : 

semper formosis fabula poena fuit. 
non tua deprenso damnata est fama veneno : 

testis eris puras, Phoebe, videre manus. 
sin autem longo nox una aut altera lusu 

consumpta est, non me crimina parva movent. 30 

^ cur tua te JBaehrcns : ciuva te X: cur vatciii FL. 
- Lunuviuui Jortin: (licit anuui JV: ducit unum FL. 
3 iiieretiir ,Y; meieris /"Z. 4 nostras/.- nostra XFL. 

maledixit Schncideivin : uie iedit FLJS'. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

bear thee so oft to Herculean Tibur ? Why so oft 
does the Appian Way lead thee to Lanuvium ? 

' Ah that thou Avouldst Avalk here in all thine 
hours of leisure ! but the world forbids me trust 
thee, Avhen it beholds thee hurry in frenzy with 
kindled torches to the Arician grove, and bear lights 
in honour of the goddess Trivia. Forsooth, thou 
carest naught for Ponipey's colonnade, with its shady 
columns, bright-hung with gold-embroidered cur- 
tains ; naught for the avenue thick-planted with 
plane-trees rising in trim rows ; nor the waters that 
flow from Maro's slumbering form and run, their 
Naiads babbling through all the streets of Rome, till 
at the last, with sudden plunge, they vanish in the 
Triton's mouth.'- 

^' Thou deceiv'st thyself; tliy wanderings reveal 
some secret passion ; 'tis not the city, 'tis my eyes 
thou flyest. Thou strivest in vain ; empty are the 
Aviles thou spinnest against me ; with little skill thou 
spreadst familiar snares for me, whom e.\})erience has 
taught. But for mj-self it matters little ; the loss 
of thine honest name will be no less great than it 
deserves to be. For of late rumour spake ill of thee 
in mine ears, and a tale of evil ran through all the 
city. 

^^ And yet thou shouldst not trust these bitter 
words ; scandal has ever been the doom of beauty. 
Thine honour has ne'er been blasted by the crime of 
poisoning ; thou, Phoebus, wilt bear witness that her 
hands are unsullied. And if thou hast spent one 
night or two in long-drawn wantoning, such petty 

^ The simplest explanation of this passage is that the waters 
issued from a statue of Maro, and disappeared into the mouth 
of a Triton. It has also been suggested that the Triton was 
an automaton that blew a blast upon a horn as a signal that 
the water should be cut otf. 

159 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

Tyndaris externo patriam mutavit amore, 

et sine Jccreto viva reducta domum est. 
ipsa Venus fertur ^ corrupta libidine Martis, 

nee minus in caelo senipei- lionesta fiiit. 
quamvis Ida Parim pastorem dicat amasse 

atque inter pecudes accubuisse deam, 
hoc et Hamad i-yadum spectavit turba sorovum 

Silenique senes ^ et pater ipse chori ; 
cum quibus Idaeo legisti poraa sub antro, 

supposita excipiens, Nai, caduca ^ manu. 40 

an quisquam in tanto stuprorum examine quaerit 

" Cur haec tam dives ? quis dedit ? unde dcdit ? " 
o nimium nostro felicem tempore Romam, 

si contra mores una puella facit ! 
haec eadem ante illam impune et Lesbia fecit : 

quae sequitur, certe est invidiosa minus, 
qui quaerit Tatios veteres durosque Sabinos, 

hie posuit nostra nuper in urbe pedem. 
tu prius et fluctus poteris siccare marines, 

altaque mortali dehgere astra manu, 50 

quam facere, ut nostrae nolint peccare puellae : 

hie mos Saturno regna tenente fuit, 
et cum DeucaUonis aquae fluxcre per orbem ; 

at ^ post antiquas Deucahonis aquas^ 
die mihi, quis potuit lectum servare pudicuni, 

quae dea cum solo vivere sola deo ? 

1 fertur iV; quamvis i'i. 

2 senes Beroaldus : senh NFL. 

3 Nai, caduca Scalir/er : naica doua NFL. 

4 at Palmer : et NFL. 

160 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

crimes vex me not a whit. The daughter of Tvn- 
dareus left her fatherland for the love of a stranger, 
and yet was brought home alive without condemna- 
tion. Venus herself is said to have been seduced 
by the lust of Mars, yet none the less had she lionour 
alway in heaven. Though Ida's mount tell how a 
goddess^ loved the she})herd Paris, and lay with 
him among his flocks, yet all this the band of sister 
Hamadryads beheld, and the old Sileni and the 
father of their company himself; and with them 
thou, Naiad, didst gather in the glens of Ida wild 
apples falling to thy hand upstretched beneath the 
boughs. 

^^ After a host of sinners such as these does any 
ask : " Why is she so rich ? " " Who gave ? Whence 
came his gifts ? " O Rome in these our days, thy 
happiness is full to overflowing, if one girl act not as 
her fellows do. All these things did Lesbia before 
Cynthia, wherefore Lesbia's follower is of a surety 
less hateful. He that hopes still to find the ancient 
Tatii, and the strict Sabine, has but lately set foot in 
our city. Sooner shalt thou have power to dry the 
waters of the deep and pluck down the lofty stars 
with mortal hand, than bring it to pass that our maids 
should refuse to sin. Such was the fashion in the 
reign of Saturn, and when Deucalion's waves over- 
flowed the world ; but after Deucalion's flood in the 
days of old, tell me, Avho was ever able to keep his 
bed chaste, what goddess could ever bide alone with 

^ Oenone, who was according to some legends a water- 
nymph. 



Ifil 



SEXTl PROPERTl ELEGIARVM LIBER II 
uxorcm quondam magni Minois, ut aiuiit, 

corrupit torvi Candida forma bovis ; 
nee minus aerate Danae circumdata nuiro 

non potuit magno casta negare lovi. 60 

quod si tu Graias es tuque ^ imitata Latinas, 

semper vive meo libera iudicio ! 

XXXIII 

Tristia iam redeunt iterum sollemnia nobis : 

Cynthia iam noctes est operata decern, 
atque utinam pereant, Nilo quae sacra tepente 

misit matronis Inachis Ausoniis ! 
quae dea tam cuj)idos totiens divisit amantes, 

quaecumque ilia fuit, semper amara fuit. 
tu certe lovis occultis in amoribus, lo, 

sensisti multas quid sit inire vias, 
cum te iussit liabere puellam cornua luno 

et pecoris dure perdere verba sono. 10 

a quotiens quernis laesisti frondibus era, 

mandisti et stabulis arbuta ^ pasta tuis ! 
an, quoniam agrestem detraxit ab ore figuram 

luppiter, idcirco facta sujierba dea es ? 
antibi non satis est fuscis Aegyptus alumnis? 

cur tibi tam longa Roma petita via ? 
quidve tibi prodest viduas dormire puellas ? 

sed tibij crede milii, cornua rursus erunt, 

1 es tuque Baehrens: tuque es NFL. 

^ mandisti Palmer : maiisisti iVi^Z. et //einsias: om. NFL. 
arbuta Palmer : abdita NFL. 

162 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

one god only? The wife of great Minos, once, 'tis 
said, was seduced by the snowy form of a fierce bull, 
nor was Danae girt in her tower of bronze less unable 
to keep her chastity and deny mighty Jove. But if 
thou hast taken the women of Greece and of Rome 
for patterns, live ever in freedom ; I blame thee 
not. 



XXXIII 

Once more those dismal rites have returned to 
plague us •: now for ten nights hath Cynthia sac- 
rificed. And a curse upon the rites which the 
daughter of Inachus hath sent from the warm Nile 
to the matrons of Italy ! The goddess that so oft 
hath sundered such ardent lovers, whoe'er she may 
have been, was ahvays a bitter goddess. Yet, lo, 
in truth thou didst learn in thy secret loves with 
Jove what it is to tread many paths of wandering, 
when Juno bade thee wear horns upon thy girlish 
brow and lose thy speech in the harsh bellowings of 
kine. Ah I how oft didst thou gall thy mouth with 
oak-leaves, and in thy stall didst chew once more the 
arbutus, on which thou hadst fed ! Hast thou become 
so haughty a goddess since Jupiter took away from 
thee thy wild shape .'' Hast thou not worshippers 
enough among the swart Egyptians ? Why didst 
thou come such a long journey to Rome ? What 
profits it thee that maids should sleep alone .'' Nay, 
believe me, thy horns will sprout again, or we will 



163 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

aut nos e nostra te, saeva, fugabimus urbe : 

cum Tiberi Nilo gratia nulla fuit. 20 

at tu, quae nostro niniiuni placata dolore es, 

noctibus his vacui ter faciamus iter, 
non audis et verba sinis mea ludere, cum lain 

flectant Icarii sidera tarda boves. 
Icnta bibis : mediae nequeunt te frangere noctes ? 

an nondum est talos mittere lassa manus ? 
a pereat, quicumque mei'acas repperit uvas 

corrupitque bonas nectare primus aquas ! 
I care, Cecropiis merito iugulate colonis, 

pampineus nosti quam sit amarus odor ! 30 

tuque o Eurytion vino Centaure peristi, 

nee non Ismario tu, Polyplieme, mero. 
vino foi'ma perit, vino corrumpitur aetas, 

vino saepe suum nescit arnica virum. 
me miserum, ut inulto nihil est mutata L)aeo ! 

iam bibe : formosa es : nil tibi vina nocent, 
cum tua praependent demissae in pocula sertae,' 

et mea deducta carmina voce legis. 
lai'gius effuso madeat tibi mensa Falerno, 

spumet et aurato mollius in calice. 40 

nulla tamen lecto recipit se sola libenter : 

est quiddam, quod vos ^ quaerere cogat Amor, 
semper in absentes felicior aestus amantes : 

elevat assiduos copia longa viros. 

1 demissae . . . sertae N, Charisiua : deuiissa . . . seita 
FL. 

2 vos N : nos FL. 

l6l 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

chfise thee, cruel goddess, from our city ! There 
ne'er was love lost 'twixt Tiber and Nile. 

2' But thoUj Cynthia, since my woes have more than 
appeased thee, let us, whom these nights kept idle, 
thrice make love's journey together. 

23 Thou hearest me not and lettest ni}'^ Avords be- 
come a mockery, though Icarus' oxen are wheeling 
their slow-moving stars to the setting ; thou drinkst 
unmoved ; has midnight no power to weary thee ? 
or is thy hand never tired of casting the dice ? A 
curse on him that first introduced the pure juice 
of the grape and first spoilt wholesome water by 
mixing wine therein ! 

29 Icai-us, justly wast thou slain by the farmers of 
Cecrops' land ; thou hast found how rueful is the 
scent of the vine. Thou also, centaur Eurytion, didst 
perish through wine-bibbing, and thou, Polyphemus, 
wast luidone by the Ismarian grape. Wine marreth 
beauty, wine spoils our prime ; and thanks to wine 
a mistress oft knows not her lover. 

25 Woe is me : deep draughts have changed thee 
not a whit : drink on ; thou art beautiful, the Avine 
does thee no hui't, when garlands hang over thy brow 
and droop into thy cups, and thou readest my verses 
Avith utterance soft and low. Let the board be 
drov.iied still decider in floods of Falernian and 
more lusciously foam the wine in thy cup of gold ! 
Yet no woman evei- betakes her willingly to a lonely 
bed ; there is a somewhat that Love compels all to 
seek. Woman's heart is kinder always towards absent 
lovers ; long possession takes from the worth of the 
persistent wooer. 



]65 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

XXXIV 1 

CvR quisquam faciem dominae iam credat ^ Amori ? 

sic erepta mihi paene puella mea est. 
expertus dico, nemo est in amore fidelis : 

formosam raro non sibi quisque })etit. 
poUuit ille deus cognates, solvit amicos, 

et bene Concordes tristia ad arma vocat. 
hospes in hospitium Menelao venit adulter : 

Colchis et ignotum nonne secuta virum est ? 
Lynceu, tune meam potuisti, pcrfide, curam 

tangere ? nonne tune tuni cecidere manus ? 10 
quid si non constans ilia ct tarn certa fuisset ? 

posses in tanto vivere flagitio ? 
tu mihi vel feri'o pectus vel perde veneno : 

a domina tantum te modo tolle mea. 
te socium vitae, te corporis esse licebit, 

te dominum adniitto rebus, amice, meis : 
lecto te solum, lecto te deprecor uno : 

rivalem possum non ego ferre lovem. 
ipse meas solus, quod nil est, aemiilor umbras, 

stultus, quod nullo ^ saepe timore tremo. 20 

una tamen causa est, cur crimina tanta remilto, 

errabant- multo quod tua verba mero. 
sed numquam vitae fallet me ruga severae : 

omnes iam norunt quam sit amare bonum. 

1 No hreak in NFL, separated by Beroaldus. 

2 iam credat N : non credit FL. 

3 nullo Heinsius : stulto NFL. 

166 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 



XXXIV 

Why should any one henceforth entrust his mistress' 
beauty to the care of Love ? Thus was my beloved 
nearly stolen from me, I speak from experience ; 
no man is ever faithful in love^ and rarely does any, 
beholding beauty, seek not to make it his own. 
Love pollutes kinship, parts friends, and summons 
them, that are well agreed, to bitter strife. The 
adulterer, that was made welcome by Menelaus, was 
a stranger ; and did not the woman of Colchis follow 
a lover whom she knew not ? 

^ Lynceus, hadst thou the heart to touch my 
beloved? Did not thy hands, faithless friend, fall 
powerless then ? What if she had not been so 
constant and so true .'' Couldst thou have lived in 
such guilt ? Take my life with poison or the sword, 
only take thj'self away from my mistress. Thou 
mayest be the comrade of my life and part never 
from my side ; my friend, I make thee lord of all my 
fortune ; 'tis only as partner in my love that I would 
have thee never : 1 cannot endure a I'ival, though 
he were Jove himself. I am jealous of mine own 
shadow, a thing of naught, fool that I am to tremble 
witli causeless fear. One plea alone can make me 
pardon such a crime : deep draughts of wine had 
caused thy tongue to stray. Yet never shall thy 
brow, wrinkled with stern morality, deceive me : the 
world is old enough for all to know how good a thing 
is love. 



167 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER II 

Lynceus ipse mens seros insanit amoves ! * 

solum te nostros laetor adive dcos. 1 

quid tua Socraticis tibi nunc sapientia libris J 

proderit aut rei'um dicere posse vias ? 
aut quid Ereclithei tibi prosunt carmina plectri ? ^ 

nil iuvat in magno vaster amove senex. 30 

tu satius Meropem Musis ^ imiteve Philetan 

et non inflati soinnia Callimachi. 
nam rursus licet Actoli referas Achcloi 

fluxerit ut magno fractus ^ amove liquov, 
atque etiam ut Phrygio fallax Maeandvia campo 

errat et ipsa suas decipit unda vias, 
qualis et Adrasti fuerit vocalis Avion, 

tvistis ad Archemovi funera victov equus : 
Ampliiavea tibi non pvosint * fata quadrigae 

aut Capanei magno gvata vuina lovi. 40 

desine et Aeschylco componcve verba cotuvno, 

desine, et ad moUes membva vesolve clioros. 
incipe iam angusto versus includere torno, 

inque tuos ignes, dure poeta, veni. 
tu non Antimaclio, non tutior ibis Homcro : 

despicit et magnos recta puella deos. 
sed non ante gravis taurus succumbit aratvo, 

cornua quam validis haeserit in laqueis, 

1 erecthei ft : erechti N : erethei FL. plectri Palmer : lecta 

NFL. 

2 Isleropem Musi?. Bertjh, Schneideu-in : memorein musis A'; 

in sis niemorem FL. 

3 fractus r: taclus NFL. 

4 Ami)hiarea tibi nil prosint Postgate : uon amphiareae 
prosint tbi NFL. 

168 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

25 Late though it be, at last Lynceus, my friend, is 
mad Avith love ! Of this only am I glad, that at last 
thou worshippest the gods we lovers serve. What 
will avail thee now thy wisdom drawn from Socratie 
books, what the power to set forth the cause of things ? 
What avails thee the songs of the Athenian lyre ? 
Thine ancient bard availeth naught against o'er- 
mastering love. Do thou rather imitate in thy song 
Coan Philetas, and the dreams of restrained Calli- 
machus. Now, though thou shouldst tell once more 
how the stream of Aetolian Achelous flowed sliattered 
by the might of love, and withal how the deceitful 
wave of Maeander wanders in the Phrygian plain 
and perplexes its own cliannels, and how, mourning 
at the funeral of Archemorus, Adrastus' victorious 
steed Arion spake aloud, naught will avail thee the 
fate of the chariot of Amphiaraus, nor the overthrow 
of Capaneus that made glad the heart of Jove. Cease 
to frame verse shod Avith the buskin of Aeschylus, 
and bend thy limbs in the soft choi'ic dance, liegin 
now to turn thy verses on a narrower lathe, and sing 
of thine own flames, hard-hearted poet. Thou shalt 
not be safer in thy goings than Antimachus or 
Homer : ^ for a comely girl despises even the power 
of the gods. 

^"^ Yet the stubborn bull yields not to the yoke of 
the plough, e'er his horns have been caught in the 

^ Propertius alludes to Antimachus' love for Lyde, and to 
the legend recorded by Hermesianax that Homer fell in love 
with Penelope, 

169 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBKR II 

nee tu tarn ^ duros per te patieris amores : 

trux tamen a nobis ante domandus eris. 50 

haruni nulla solet rationcm quaerere mundi, 

nee cur fraternis Luna laboret equis, 
nee si post Stygias aliquid rest arbiter undas,^ 

nee si eonsulto fulmina missa tonent. 
aspice me, cui parva domi fortuna relicta est 

nullus et antique Marte triumphus avi, 
ut regnem niixtas inter eonviva puellas 

hoc ego, quo tibi nunc elevor, ingenio ! 
mi lubet liesternis posito ^ languere corollis, 

quern tetigit iactu certus ad ossa deus ; 60 

Actia Vergilio custodis litora Phoebi, 

Caesaris et fortes dicere posse rates, 
qui nunc Aeneae Troiani suscitat arma 

iactaque LaA'inis mocnia litoribus. 
cedite Romani scriptores, cedite Grai ! 

nescio quid maius nascitur I Hade, 
lu canis unibrosi subter pineta Galaesi 

Thyrsin et attritis Daphnin harundinibus, 
utque decern possint corrunipere mala puellas 

missus et impressis hacdus ab uberibus. 70 

felix, qui viles pomis mercaris amores ! 

huic licet ingratae Tityrus ipse canat. 
felix intactum Corydon qui temptat Alexin 

agricolae domini carpere delicias ! 

1 tarn FL : iain N. 

2 rest arbiter uudas Munro : restabit NFL. erumpnas FL. 
om. N. 

3 mi lubet . . . posito Ilousman: me iuvet . . . posituin 
NFL. hcsternis r: exteinis N: aeteinis i^Z. 

170 






THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

stout noose. Nor wilt thou of thyself be able to 
endiu-e the hardships of love ; first tliou must have 
thy fierce spirit tamed by me. Never will girl inquire 
concerning the system of the universe, nor ask why 
the labours of the moon depend on her brother's 
steeds, nor if in truth there is a judge beyond the 
waves of Styx, nor if the crashing thunderbolts be 
hurled by an aiming hand. Look on me, to whom 
but a scanty fortune hath been left at home, whose 
ancestors ne'er triumphed for battles long ago, see 
how I reign at the banquet in the midst of a crowd 
of girls, thanks to the wit for which thou nowmakest 
light of me ! 

°^ lie it mine to lie languidly among the wreaths 
of yesterday, for the god hath stricken me with aim 
unerring even to the bone. Be it for Vergil to sing 
the shores of Actium o'er which Phoebus watclies, 
and Caesar's gallant ships of war; Vergil that now 
w.ikes to life the arms of Trojan Aeneas and the 
walls he founded on the Lavinian shore. Yield ye, 
bards of Rome, yield ye, singers of Greece ! Some- 
thing greater than tlie Iliad now springs to birth ! 
\\n-gil, thou singest beneath the pine-woods of shady 
Galaesus^ of Thyrsis, and Daphnis- with the well-Avorn 
pipe of reed, and how ten apples or a kid ^ fresh from 
the udder of its dam may win the love of a girl. 
Hapjiy thou that thus cheaply buyest thy love with 
apples ; to such a love may even Tityrus* sing, unkind 
though she be. Happy, too, Corydon,who seeks to Avin 
Alexis,^ the darling of the farmer, his master, Alexis 

1 The allusion is probably to Georg. iv. 125. The Galaesua 
is not mentioned in the Edogues. 

2 Ed. V. and Vii. 3 Ed. in. 70. i Ed. i. 5 Ed. ii. 



171 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LI KR II 

quamvis ille sua lassus requiescat avena, 

laudatur faciles inter Hamadrvadas. 
tu canis Ascraei vetcris praecepta poetae, 

quo seges in campo, quo viret uva iugo. 
tale faeis carmen docta testudine quale 

Cynthius impositis temperat articulis. 80 

non tamen haec ulli venient ingrata lecrenti, 

sive in amore rudis sive peritus erit. 
nee minor hie animis, ut sit minor ore,*- canorus 

anseris indocto carmine cessit olor. 
haec quoque perfecto ludebat lasone Varro^ 

Varro Leucadiae maxima flamma suae ; 
haec quoque lascivi cantarunt scripta Catulli^ 

Lesbia quis ipsa notior est Helena ; 
haec etiam docti confessa est pagina Cal\d, 

cum caneret miserae funera Quintiliae. 90 

et modo formosa qui ^ multa Lycoride Gallus 

mortuus inferna vulnera lavit aqua ! 
Cynthia quin etiam versu laudata Properti, 

hos inter si me ponere Fama volet. 

1 hie Uousman : his NFL. animis N : animi FL. ut fit 
minor Uousman: aut sim minor NFL (minor ore canorus 
om. N). 

* qui r : quani NFL. 



172 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK II 

yet unwon ; even though he weary and rest from his 
piping, yet is he praised by the wanton Hamadrj^ads. 
Thou singest also the })recepts of Ascra's poet old, 
telling in what plains the corn grows green, and on 
Avhat hills the vine. Such music makest thou as the 
Cynthian god modulates with fingers pressed upon 
his well-skilled lyre. Yet these songs of thine will 
fail to please none that reads, whether he be skilled 
in love or all unlearned; and the melodious " swan," 
less lofty of accent, yet no less inspired when he 
sings the songs of love, sinks not to tuneless cackle 
like the " goose." ^ 

^^ Such sportive themes also did Varro sing when 
his tale of Jason was all told ; ^ Varro, Leucadia's 
mightiest flame. Such are the songs that wanton 
Catullus wrote, whose Lesbia is better known than 
Helen. Such passion also the pages of learned 
Calvus did confess, when he sang of the death of 
hapless Quintilia ; and dead Gallus too, that of late 
laved in the streams of Hell the many wounds dealt 
him by fair Lycoris. Nay, Cynthia also has been 
glorified by Propertius — if Fame shall grant me a 
I^lace mid such as they. 

1 A punnina: reference to the poetaster Anser (= goose), 
EUggested by Vei'gil, Eel. ix. 36. 

2 I.e., after the publication of his translation of the Aryo- 
nautiva of Apollonius Rhodius. 



173 



BOOK III 



LIBER TEin [VS 



I 



CalliiMachi Manes et Coi sacra Philetae, 

in vestmm, quaeso, me sinite ire nemus. 
primus ego ingrcdior puro de fonte sacerdos 

Itala per Graios (^llgiA ferre chores, 
dicite, quo pariter carmen tenuastis in antro ? 

quove pede ingressi ? quamve bibistis aquam ? 
a valeat, Phoebum quicumque moratur in armis ! 

exactus tenui pumice versus eat, — 
quo me Fama levat terra sublimis^ et a me 

nata coronatis Musa triumphat equis, 10 

et mecum in curru parvi vectautur Amores, 

scriptorumque meas turba secuta rotas, 
quid frustra missis in me certatis habenis ? 

non datur ad Musas currere lata via. 
multi, Roma, tuas laudes annalibus addent, 

qui fincm imperii Bactra futura canent ; 
sed, quod pace legas, opus hoc de monte Sororum 

detulit inbicta pagina nostra via. 
moUia, Pegasides, date vestro serta poctae : 

non faciet capiti dura coron?, meo 20 



17() 



THE THIRD BOOK 



I 

Shade of Callimachus and sacred rites of Philetas, 
suffer me, I pray, to enter your grove. I am the 
first with priestly service from an unsulHed spring to 
carry Itahan mysteries among the dances of Greece.^ 
Tell me, in what grotto did ye weave your songs 
together? With what step did ye enter? What 
sacred fountain did ye drink ? 

' Away with the man who keeps Phoebus tarrying 
among the weapons of war ! Let verse run smoothly, 
polished with fine pumice. 'Tis by such verse as this 
that Fame lifts me aloft from earth, and the Muse, 
my daughter, triumphs with garlanded steeds, and 
tiny Loves ride with me in my chai-iot, and a throng 
of writers follows my wheels. Why strive ye against 
me vainly with loosened rein ? Narrow is the path 
that leadeth to the Muses. Many, O Rome, shall 
add fresh glories to thine annals, singing that Eactra 
shall be thine empire's bound ; but this work of mine 
my pages have brouglit down from the Muses' mounts 
by an untrodden Avay, that thou may est read it ird 
the midst of peace. 

19 Pegasid Muses, give soft garlands to your por 
no hard crown will suit my brow. But that wher 

I.e , to write on Italian subiects in Greek style. 

179 



SEXTI PIIOPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

at mihi quod vivo detraxerit invida turba, 

post obitum diii)lici faenore reddct Honos ; ^ 
omnia post obituin fingit maiora vetustas :^ 

mains ab exsequiis iiomen in ora venit. 
nam quis equo pulsas abiegno nosceret arces, 

fluminaque Haemonio comminus isse viro, 
Idaeum Simoenta, lovis cum prole Scamandro,^ 

Hectora per campos ter maculasse rotiis ? 
Dei])hobumque Helenumque et Pulydamanta et 
in arniis 

qualemcumque Parim vix sua nosset lunnus. 30 

exiguo sermone fores nunc, Ilion, et tu 

Troia bis Oetaei numine capta dei. 
nee non ille tui casus memorator Homerus 

posteritate suum crescere sensit opus, 
meque inter seros laudabit Roma nepotes : 

ilium post cineres auguror ipse diem, 
ne mea contcmj)to lapis indicet ossa sepulcro 

provisum est Lycio vota probante deo. 



II 

Cahminis interea nostri rcdcamus in orbcm ; 
gaudeat in solito tacta puella sono. 
scOrphea delenisse * feras et concita dicunt 
flumina 'Ihreicia sustinuisse lyra ; 

moll reddet/.- rcddi t iV/'Z. honos S": om\& NFL. 
no omnia FL ; fnmae N. vetustas FL : vetustae N. 

cum prole Scamandro G. Wolf: cuuabula parvi FL : om. N. 
lelenisse Aynnann : detiiiuisse NL : detenuisse F. 

176 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 111 

the envious throng have robbed me in life^ Glory 
after death shall repay with double interest. After 
death lapse of years makes all things seem greater ; 
after the rites of burial a name rings greater on 
the lips of men. Else wlio v^oukl know aught of 
the citadel shattered by the horse of fir-wood, or 
how rivers strove in mortal confiict with Haemonia's 
hero ? Who would know aught of Idaean Simois and 
Scamander sprung from Jove, or tliat the chariot- 
wheel thrice dragged Hector foully o'er the plain ? 
Scarce would their own land know Deiphobus, 
HelenuSj and Pulydamas, and Paris that sorry warrior. 
Little talk now would there be of thee, Ilion, and of 
thee, Troy, twice captured by the power of Oeta's 
god. Nay, even Homer, that told thy fall, hath seen 
his work grow in fame through lapse of after-years 
Me too shall Rome praise in the voices of late-born 
generations ; myself I foresee that day beyond the 
fatal pyre. No man shall spurn tlie grave where the 
headstone marks my bones ! So ordaineth Lycia's 
god, for he hath approved my vows. 



II 

Meanwhile let us return to our wonted round of 
song ; let the heart of my mistress be moved with 
joy at the old familiar music. They say that Orpheus 
with his Thracian lyre tamed wild beasts and stayed 



179 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

saxa Cithaeronis Thebas agitata per artem 

sponte sua in muri ^ membra coisse ferunt ; 
quia etiam, Polyplieme^ fera Cxalatea sub Aetna 

ad tua roi'antes carmina flexit equos. 
miremur, nobis et liaccho et Apolline dextro, 

turba puellarum si mea verba colit ? 10 

quod non Taenariis domus est mihi fulta columniSj 

nee camera auratas inter eburna trabes, 
nee mea Phaeacas aequant })omaria silvas, 

non operosa rigat Marcius antra liquor ; 
at Musae comites et carmina cara legenti, 

nee ^ dcfessa choris Calliopca meis. 
fortunata, meo si qua est celebrata libello ! 

carmina erunt formae tot monumenta tuae. 
nam neque P3 ramidum sumptus ad sidera ducti, 

nee lovis Elei caelum imitata domus, 20 

nee Mausolci dives fortuiia sepulcri 

mortis ab extrema condicione vacant, 
aut illis flamma aut imber subducit honores, 

annorum aut ictus pondere ^ victa ruent. 
at non ingenio quaesitum nomen ab aevo 

excidet : ingenio stat sine morte decus. 

I iu niuri S" : iii uuiiieri NL : immineri F. 

- nee Baehrens : et FL : omitted by N. 

3 ictus L: ictu NF. poudere AL : pondera F. 



18G 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

rushing- rivers, and that Cithaeron's rocks were 
driven to Thebes by the minstrel's art and of their 
own will gathered to frame a wall. Nay, Galatea too 
beneath wild Etna turned her steeds that dripped 
with brine to the sound of thy songs, Polyphemus. 

^ What marvel, when Bacchus and Apollo smile on 
me, that a host of maidens should adore my words ? 
My house is not stayed on Taenarian columns ; I have 
no ivory chamber with gilded beams ; no orchards 
have I to vie with Phaeacia's trees, nor hath art 
built me grottoes watered by the Marcian fount. But 
the Muses are my comrades, and my songs are dear 
to them that read, nor ever is Calliope aweai*y witli 
my dancing.^ 

^"^ Happy she that book of mine hath praised ! My 
songs shall be so many memorials of thy beauty. 
For neither the Pyramids built skyward at such 
cost, nor the house of Jove at Elis that matches 
heaven, nor the Avealth of Mausokis' tomb are exempt 
from the end imposed by death. Their glory is 
stolen away by fire or rain, or the strokes of time 
whelm them to ruin crushed by their own weight. 
But the fame that my wit hath won shall never 
perish : for wit renovni endureth deathless. 

^ Or perhaps " music." 



ISl 



SEXTI FROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER HI 



III 

Visvs eram molli recubaiis Heliconis in iinil:)ra, 

Bellcrophontei qua fluit umor equi^ 
reges, Alba^ tuos et regum facta tuorum, 

tantum operis, nervis hiscere posse nieis ; 
parvaque tarn magnis admoram fontibus ora, 

unde pater sitiens Eiinius ante bibit ; 
et cecinit Curios fratres et Horatia pila, 

regiaque Aemilia vecta troi)aea rate, 
victricesque moras Fabii pugnamque sinistram 

Cannensem et versos ad pia vota deos, 10 

Hannibalemque Lares Romana sede fugantes, 

anseris et tutum voce fuisse lovem : 
cum me Castalia speculans ex arbore Phoebus 

sic ait aurata nixus ad antra lyi'a : 
" Quid tibi cum tali, demens, est flumine ? quis te 

carminis lieroi tangere iussit opus ? 
non hinc ulla tibi speranda est fama, Properti : 

mollia sunt parvis prata terenda rotis ; 
ut tuus in scamno iactetur saepe libcllus, 

quem legat exspectans sola puella viruin. 20 

cur tua pracscripto sevecta est pagina gyro ? 

non est ingenii cumba gra\anda tui. 
alter remus aquas alter tibi radat harenas, 

tutus eris : medio maxima turba mari est." 
dixerat, et plectro sedem mihi monstrat eburno, 

qua nova muscoso semita facta solo est. 
182 



TPIE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS EOOK III 



III 

Methought I lay in the soft shades of Helicon, 
where flows the fountain of Bellerophon's steed, and 
deemed I had the power with sinews such as mine to 
sing of thj' kings, O Alba^ and the deeds of thy 
kings, a mighty task. Already I had set my puny 
lips to tliose mighty fovuitains, whence father Ennius 
once slaked his thirst and sang of the Curian brothers 
and the javeHns of the Horatii and the royal trophies 
borne in Aemilius' bark, of the victorious delays of 
Fabius, the fatal fight of Cannae and the gods that 
turned to answer pious prayei's, of the Lares frighting 
Hannibal from their Roman home, and of Jove saved 
by the cackling goose. 

^^ But of a sudden Phoebus espied me from his 
Castalian grove and spake thus, leaning on his golden 
lyre nigh to a cavern: " Madman, what hast thou to do 
with such a stream ? Wlio bade thee essay the task 
of heroic song ? Not hence, Propertius, mayest thou 
hope for fame ! Soft are tlie meads o'er which thy 
little wheels must roll, that oft thy book may be read 
by some lonely girl, that waits her absent lover, and 
oi't be cast upon the stool at her feet.^ Why has thy 
page swerved from the ring prescribed for it .'' The 
shallop of thy wit can bear no heavy cargo ! Let one 
oar skim the water, the other the sand ; so shalt thou 
be safe : mighty is the turmoil in mid-sea." He spake, 
and with his ivory quill showed me a dwelling, where 
a new path had been made along the mossy floor. 

1 Two interpretations of this obscure couplet are possible : 
(a) the book is cast down on the arrival of the lover ; [b) the 
reader is restless and keeps throwing the book down. 

183 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 
liic erat affixis viridis spelunca lapillis, 

pendebantqiie cavis tympana pumicibus, 
orgia ^ Musarum et Sileni patris imago 

fictilis et calami, Pan Tegeaee, tui ; 30 

et Veneris dominae volucres, mea turba, columbae 

tingunt Gorgoneo punica rostra lacu ; 
diversaeque novem sortitae nira Puellae 

exerccnt teneras in sua dona manus : 
haec hederas legit in thyrsos, haec carmina ner\ is 

aptat, at ilia manu texit utraque rosam. 
e quarum numero me eontigit una dearum 

(ut reor a facie, Calliopca fuit) : 
" Contentus niveis semper vectaberc cycnis, 

nee te fortis equi ducet ad arma sonus. 40 

nil tibi sit rauco praeconia classica cornu 

flare, nee Aonium tinguere Marte ncmus ; 
aut quibus in campis Mariano proelia signo 

stent et Teutonicas Roma refringat opes, 
barbarus aut Suevo perfusus sanguine Rhenus 

saucia maerenti corpora veetet aqua, 
quippe coronatos alienum ad limen amantes 

nocturnacque canes ebria signa fugae, 
ut per te clausas sciat excantare puellas, 

qui volet austeros arte ferire viros." 50 

talia Calliope, lymphisque a fonte petitis 

ora Philetaea nostra rigavit aqua. 

orgia Heinsius: ergo NFL. 



184 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

-^ Here was a green cave^ its walls lined with 
pebbles, and timbrels hung from its hollovred stones ; 
there hung also the mystic instruments of the Muses 
and the clav image of father Silenus, and thv 
reeds, O Pan of Tegea ; and doves, birds of my lady 
Venus, the birds I love, dipped their red bills in the 
Gorgon's fount, wliile here and there tlie Maidens 
nine, to each of whom the lot hath given her several 
realm, busied their soft hands about their diverse gifts. 
One gathered ivy for the thyrsus-wand, another tuned 
her song to the music of the lyre, a third with either 
hand wove wreaths of roses. 

•^^ Then one of the number of these goddesses laid 
her hand upon me — 'twas Calliope,^ as I deem by her 
face : "^ Thou shalt alway be content to be drawn by 
snowy swans,\nor shall the tramp of the war-horse 
lead thee to battle. Care not thou with hoarse 
trumpet-blast to blare forth martial advertisement 
nor to stain Aonia's grove with war. Care not thou 
in what fields the battle is arrayed beneath Marius' 
standard, and Rome beats back the Teuton's power, 
nor where tlie wild Rhine, steeped with the Swabian's 
blood, bears mangled bodies down its sorrowing 
waves. 

■^^ " For thou shalt sing of garlanded lovers watch- 
ing before another's threshold, and the tokens of 
drunken flight through the dark, that he who would 
cheat stern husbands by his cunning may through 
thee have power to charm forth his imprisoned love." 
So spake Calliope, and, drawing water from the fount, 
sjjrinkled my lips with the draught Philetas loved. 

1- It is probable that Propertius regards the name Calliope 
as meaning in Greek " fair-faced " instead of " sweet-voiced." 



185 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

IV 

Arma deus Caesar dites nicditatur ad Indos, 

et freta jjemmiferi findere classe maris, 
magna^ viri, merces : parat ultima terra trium^ihos, 

Thybris, et Euplirates sub tua iura fluet ; ^ 
sera, sed Ausoniis veniet provincia virgis ; 

assuescent Latio Pai-tlia tropaea lovi. 
ite agite, expertae bello date lintea j^rorae, 

et solitum armigeri ducitc munus equi ! 
omina fausta cano. Crassos cladenique piate ! 

ite et Romanae consulite historiae ! 1 

Mars pater, et sacrae fatalia lumina Vestae, 

ante meos obitus sit precor ilia dies, 
qua videam spoliis oneratos Caesaris axes, 

ad vulgi plausus saepe resistere equos, 
inque sinu carae nixus spectare puellae 

incipiam et titulis oppida ca))ta legam, 
tela fugacis equi et bracati niilitis arcus, 

et subter caj)tos arma sedere duces ! 
ipsa tuam serva prolem, Venus : hoc sit in aevum, 

cernis ab Aenea quod superesse caput. 20 

praeda sit haec illis, quorum meruere labores : 

mi sat erit Sacra - plaudere posse Via. 

I Thybris . . . fluet Jlousmun : Tisrris . . . i^uent NFL. 
8 mi 5": ma NFL. saci-a. N : om.L: media J!". 



186 



THE ELEGIES OF PKOPERTIUS BOOK III 



IV 

Caesar our god plans war ^ against rich Ind and 
would cleave with his fleet the waters of the pearl- 
bearing sea. Great is the prize, men of Rome : 
furthest earth prepares triumphs for thee, Tiber, and 
Euj)hrates shall flow beneath thy sway. Late shall 
that province come beneath Ausonia's rods, yet it 
shall surely come ; Parthia's trophies shall become 
familiar with Latin Jupiter. Go now, ye prows well 
skilled in war, unfurl your sails ; ye war-horses, ply 
the task ye know so well ! I sing you prospering 
omens. Avenge Crassus and his slaughter ! Go fortli 
and make fair the pages of Rome's story ! 

^^ O father Mars and ye fires of fate, that burn for 
holy Vesta, I implore you, may that day come ere I 
die, on which I shall see Caesar's chariots laden with 
spoils and his steeds oft halting at sound of the 
people's cheers ; then as I lie reclined on the bosom 
of my beloved I will read the names of captured 
cities, and will turn mine eyes to gaze at the shafts 
that were hurled by flying horsemen, at the bows of 
trousered warriors and the captive chiefs that sit 
beneath the arms that once they bore. 

1^ Venus, keep safe tliine offspi*ing ; may that life, 
that before thine eyes still preserves Aeneas' line, live 
through all ages ! Be the spoil theirs whose toil has 
won it ! Enough for me to be able to cheer them on 
the Sacred Way. 

1 An allusion to the expedition to Parthia, which actually 
took place in 20 B.C. 



187 



SEXTI PROPRRTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 



Pacis Amor deus est, pacem veneramur amantes : 

sat^ mihi cum domina pioelia dura mea. 
nee tantum ^ inviso pectus mihi carj)itur auro, 

nee bibit e gemma divite nostra sitis, 
nee mihi mille iugis Campania pinguis aratur, 

nee, miser, aera paro clade, Corinthe, tua. 
o prima infelix fingenti terra Prometheo ! 

ille panim caute pectoris egit opus, 
corpora disponens mentem non vidit in arte : 

recta animi primum debuit esse via. 10 

nunc maris in tantum vento iactaniur, at hostem 

quaerimus, atque armis nectimus anxia nova, 
baud ullas portabis opes Acherontis ad undas : 

nudus ad infernas, stulte, vehere rates, 
victor cum victis pariter miscebitur umbris : 

consule cum Mario, capte lugurtha, sedes. 
Lydus Dulichio non distat Croesus ab Iro : 

optima mors, carpta quae venit acta ^ die. 
me iuvat in prima coluisse Helicona iuventa 

Musarumque choris implicuisse manus : 20 

nie iuvet et multo mentem vincire Lyaeo, 

et caput in verna semper habere rosa. 

^ sat Livineius : stant NFL. 

2 Inntum Lachmann : \tiii\en NFL. 

3 car|ita Baehrcns : parca NFL. acta NL : apta F. 

188 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



V 

Love is a god of peace : we lovers worship peace : 
enough for me the hard warfare I wage with my 
mistress. My soul is not so racked with lust for hateful 
gold, nor drinks my thirst from cups of precious stone, 
nor is fat Campania ploughed for me by a thousand 
yokesj nor do I get me bronzes ^ from thy ruin, hap- 
less Corinth. 

' Ah ! primeval earth so unkind to Prometheus' 
fashioning hand ! With too little care he moulded 
the human heart. He ordered men's bodies, but 
forgot the mind as he plied his art ; straight before 
all else should have been the path of the soul. Now 
o'er such wide seas are we tempest-tossed ; we seek 
out a foe, and pile fresh war on war. Yet no wealth 
shalt thou carry to the waves of Acheron : naked, 
thou fool, thou shalt be borne to the ship of Hell. 
There victor and vanquished shades are mmgled in 
equality of death : captive Jugurtha, thou sittest be- 
side the consul Marius ; Lydian Croesus is as DuUchian 
Irus ! That death is best that comes apace when we 
have had our joy of life. 

19 My delight is it to have worshipped Helicon in my 
earliest youth and to have entwined my hands in the 
Muses' dance. Be it my delight also to bind my soul 
with deep Lyaean draughts and ever to have wreaths 
of spring roses about my brow. And when the 

1 An allusion to Corinthian bronze, said to have been 
formed by the accidental fusing of gold, silver, and bronze at 
the burning of Corinth by Mummius, 146 B.C. 



189 



SFATI PROl'ERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

atque ubi iam Vencrcm gravis interceperit aetas, 

sparserit et nigras ^ alba senecta comas, 
tuni mihi naturae libeat })erdisccre mores, 

quis deus banc muiidi tempcret arte domum, 
qua venit exoriens, qua deficit, uiide coactis 

cornibus in plenum menstrua luna redit, 
undo salo superant venti, quid flamine cajjtet 

Eurus, et in nubes unde pcrennis aqua ; HO 

sit Ventura dies mundi quae subruat arccs, 

purpureus ])luvias cur bibit arcus aquas, 
aut cur I'errhaebi tremuere cacumina Rindi, 

solis et atratis luxerit orbis equis, 
cur serus versare boves et plaustra Bootes,^ 

Pleiadum spisso cur coit igne chorus, 
curve suos finis altum non exeat aequor, 

plcnus et in ])artis quattuor annus eat ; 
sub tcrris sint iura deum et tornicnta Gigantuni, 

Tisipliones atro si furit angue cajmt, 40 

aut Alcniaeoniae furiae aut ieiunia Phinei, 

nuni rota, num scopuli, num sitis inter aquas, 
num tribus infernum custodit faucibus antrum 

Cevberus, et Tityo iugera j)auca novem, 
an ficta in miseras desccndit tabula gentis, 

et timor haud ultra quani I'ogus esse potest, 
exitus hie vitae superest mihi : vos, quibus arma 

grata magis, Crassi signa referte domum. 

^ sparserit et N : sparsit et FL. nigras T : iiitegras NFL. 
2 plaustra Bootes r : flamuia palustra FL ; flauima boon N. 



190 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 111 

burdening years have set a stay to love, and whiten- 
ing age hath ftecked my black locks^ then be it my 
pleasure to learn the ways of nature, to learn what 
god rules by his wisdom this quarter of the world, 
how comes the rising moon, how Avancs, and how each 
month its horns are orbed again to the full ; whence 
sweep the winds in triumph over the sea, what seeks 
the East Wind with his blast, and whence the clouds 
draw their unfailing water ; whether a day shall come 
to o'erthrow the citadels of the world ; why the bright 
bow drinks up the rain-water, why the peaks of 
Perrhaebian Pindus have trembled, why mourned the 
sun's disk with dark-robed steeds, why Bootes is late 
to turn his oxen and wain, why the band of Pleiads 
shine with close-set fires, why the deep outsteps not 
its bounds, and why the full year hath four seasons 
in its round ; whether there be gods that rule under- 
ground and giants that suffer torment, and Tisiphone's 
brow be wild with black snakes ; whether Alcmaeon 
be plagued with Furies and Phineus with fasting, 
whether there be the wheel, the rolling rock, the 
thirst in the water's midst; whether Cerberus guards 
with triple throat the cave of Hell, and nine acres 
are all too few for Tityos ; or if the tale that hath 
come down to wretched mortals be an empty dream 
and there is naught to dread beyond the pyre. 
Such is the close of life that waits ibr me : do ye to 
whom arms are dearest bring home the standards of 
Crassus 1 



191 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

VI 

Die milii de nostra, quae sentis, vera puella : 

sic tibi sint doniinae, Lygdanie, dempta iuga. 
num 1 me laetitia tumefactum fallis inaui, 

haec referens, quae me credere velle putas? 
omnis enim debet sine vano nuntius esse, 

maioremque timens servus habere fidem. 
nunc mihi, si qua tenes, ab origine dicere prima 

incipe : suspensis auribus ista bibam. 
sic, ut earn 2 incomptis vidisti Acre capillis, 

illius ex oculis multa cadebat aqua ? 10 

nee speculum strato vidisti, Lygdame, lecto ? 

ornabat niveas nullane gemma manus ? 
ac maestam teneris vestem pendere lacertis, 

scriniaque ad lecti clausa iacere pedes ? 
tristis erat domus, et tristes sua pensa ministrae 

carpebant, medio nebat et ij)sa loco, 
umidaque imprcssa siccabat lumina lana, 

rettulit et querulo iurgia nostra sono ? 
" Haec te teste mihi promissa est, Lygdame, merces ? 

est poenae servo rumpere teste fidem. 20 

ille potest nullo miseram me linquere facto, 

et qualem nolo ^ dicere habere domo I 
gaudet me vacuo solam tabescere lecto. 

si placet, insultet, Lygdame, morte mca. 

^ num ?" : non N : duni FL. 

2 sic, ut eaiii Butler : sicut earn FL: si ca N. 

3 et qualem uolo Palmer: et qualem nullo N: aequalcm 
nulla FL. 

192 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

VI 

Tell me truly what thou thinkest of my love : soj 
LygdamuSj be the yoke of thy mistress taken from 
tliy neck. Dost thou cheat me and make me swell 
with baseless joy, telling me such news as thou thinkst 
I would fain believe ? Every messenger should be 
blameless of lying, and a slave should be all the 
truer by reason of his fear. Now set forth thy tale 
to me from the first beginning, if thou rememberest 
aught ; I will listen with eager ears. 

" Did her tears rain even so when thou beheldest her 
weep w ith hair dishevelled } Didst thou see no mirror, 
LygdamuS; on her couch } Did no jewelled ring adorn 
her snowy hands ? Didst thou see a sad-hued robe 
hang from her soft arms, and did her toilet caskets lie 
closed at the bed's foot ? Was the house sad, and 
sad her handmaids as they plied their tasks, and was 
she knitting in their midst ? Did she press the wool 
to her eyes to dry their moisture, and repeat my 
chidings with plaintive tone.? "Is this the reward 
he promised me in thy hearing, Lygdamus ? Perjury 
may be punished, though the witness be but a slave. 
Can he leave me thus to weep with never an act of 
love, and keep in his house one such as I would not 
name } He rejoices that I pine forlorn in my empty 
bed. If it please him, Lygdamus, let him mock me 
even in death ! 'Twas by no winning ways, but by 



a 193 



SEXTI PROrERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

non me moribus ilia, set! herbis improba vicit : 

staminea rhombi ducitur ille rota, 
ilium turgentis ranae portenta rubetae 

ct lecta exuctis ^ anguibus ossa trahunt, 
et strigis invenbie per busta iacentia plumae, 

cinctaque funesto lanea vitta viro. 30 

si non vana canunt mea somnia, Lygdame, testor, 

poena erit ante meos sera sed ampla pedes; 
putris et in vacuo texetur aranea lecto : 

noctibus illorum dormiet ipsa Venus." 
quae tibi si veris animis est questa puella, 

hac eadem rursus, Lygdame, curre via, 
et mea cum multis lacrimis mandata reporta 

iram, non fraudes esse in amore mco, 
me quoque consiniili impositum torquerier igni : 

iurabo bis sex integer esse dies. 40 

quod milii si e tanto ^ felix concordia bello 

exstiterit, per me, Lygdame, liber eris. 



VII 

Ergo soUicitae tu causa, pecunia, vitae ! 

j)er te inmnaturum mortis adimus iter ; 
tu vitiis hominum crudelia pabula praebcs ; 

semina curarum de capite orta tuo. 
tu Pactum ad Pharios tendentem lintea portus 

obruis insane terque quaterque mari, 

1 exuctis Burmann : exectis NL : exactis F. 

2 e tanto Lachmann : tanto NFL. 

194 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

magic herbs, that she, the wretch, hath conquered me : 
he is led captive by the magic wheel ^ whirled on 
its string. He is drawn to her by the monstrous 
charms of the swelling bramble-toad and by the 
bones she has gathered from dried serpents, by the 
owl-feathers found on low-Jying tombs, and the 
woollen fillet bound about the doomed man.^ I 
call thee to witness, Lygdamus ; if my dreams lie 
not, he shall yield me vengeance, late, yet ample, 
as he grovels at my feet. The spider shall weave 
her mouldering threads about liis empty couch, and 
Venus herself shall slumber on the night of their 
embrace." 

^^ If my love spake these words with truth in her 
soul, run back, Lygdamus, by the way thou camest. 
Bear back this message from me with many tears, 
that my passion may have stooped to anger, but 
never to guile, that I am tormented by like flame 
to hers : I will swear that for twice six days 1 have 
known no woman. Then if blest peace shall spring 
from such fierce war, as far as 1 may serve thee, 
Lygdamus, thou art free ! 



VII 

Thou, therefore, money, art the cause that life is 
full of care ! 'tis for thee we go dovv^n to death ere 
our time ; 'tis thou that givest men's vices cruel 
nourishment, thou art the fount whence spring the 
seeds of woe : 'twas thou that thrice and four times 
didst whelm with raging seas Paetus that set his sails 
toward Phai-os' haven. 

^ See note, p. 147. 

2 I.e., the waxen image of the object o£ the spells. 

195 



SEXTl PROPEUTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

nam dum te sequitur, primo miser excidit aevo 

et nova longin(|uis piscibus esca natat ; 
ct mater non iusta i)iae dare debita terrae 

nee pote eognatos inter liuniare rogos ; 10 

sed tua nunc volucres astant super ossa marinae, 

nunc tibi pro tumulo Carpathium omne mare est. 
infelix Aquilo, ra])tae timor Orithyiae, 
quae s])olia ex illo tanta fuere tibi ? 
aut quidnam fracta gaudes, Neptune, carina ? 

portabat sanctos alveus ille viros. 
Paete, quid aetatem numcras ? quid cara natanti 

mater in ore tibi est ? non habet unda deos 
nam tibi nocturnis ad saxa ligata i)rocellis 

omnia detrito vincula fune cadunt. 20 

reddite corpus humOj posita est in gurgite vita ; 25 

Pactum sponte tua, vilis arena, tegas ; 
et quotiens Paeti transibit nauta se})ulcrum, 

dicat " Et audaci tu timor esse potes." 
ite, rates curvate,^ et leti texite causas : 

ista j)er humanas mors venit acta manus. SO 

terra parum fuerat fatis, adiecimus undas : 

fortunae misei'as auximus arte vias. 
ancora te teneat, quern non tenuere penates ? 

quid meritum dicas, cui sua terra parum est ? 
ventorum est, quodcumque paras : baud ulla carina 

conscnuit, I'allit poi'tus et ipse fidem. 
natura insidians pontum substravit avaris : 
ut tibi succedat, vix semel esse potest. 

1 curvate Lend/um ; curvae AFL. 
196 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

"^ Poor wretch^ while he followed thee he was 
snatched away from life's first bloom, and floats 
strange food for fishes far away. His mother might 
not give burial due to the dust of him that loved 
hei-, nor lay him in earth amid the ashes of his 
kin. But the birds of the sea stand now above 
thy boneSj and thou hast for sepulchre the whole 
Carpathian main. Ah ! cruel North Wind, ravished 
Orithyia's dread, what great harvest of spoil couldst 
thou win from him ? Or why, Neptune, delightest 
thou in shipwreck ? Righteous men were they that 
voyaged in that hull. Paetus, why count'st thou 
o'er thy years ? Why, as thou swimmest, is thy 
dear mother's name upon thy lips } The wave 
hath no gods to hear thee. Thy cables were made 
fast to the rocks, but the storms of the night 
V jhore through tlieir strands and swept them all 
away, 

2» Give back his body to earth, his life lies lost in 
the deep ; sands without Avorth, drift at your will and 
cover Paetus. And oft as the mariner passes Paetus' 
tomb let him say : " Thou canst bring terror even to 
the brave ! " Go to now, build curving keels, weave 
engiiies of death : 'tis from man's hands come deaths 
like this. Earth was too small for death, we have 
added the Avaves : by our craft have we enlarged the 
cruel paths of fortune. Should the anchor hold thee, 
whom thy home could not hold ? What shouldst 
thou say he merits, that finds his native land too 
small ? Whate'er thou buildest is sport of the 
winds ; no keel hath e'er grown old ; even the haven 
keeps not faith. Nature with guile hath made the 
sea a path for greed : scarce once may success 



197 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

sunt Agamemnonias testantia litova curas, 21 

qua notat Argynni poena Mimantis aquas.^ 22 

hoc iuvene amisso classcm non solvit Atrides, 23 

pro qua mactata est Ipliigenia mora.^ 24- 

saxa triuniphales fregere Capharca puppes, 39 

naufraea cum vasto Graecia tracta salo e3t. 40 

paulatim socium iacturam flevit Vlixes, 

in mare cui solum ^ non valuere doli. 
quod si contentus patrio bove verteret agros, 

verbaque duxisset pondus habere mea, 
viveret ante suos dulcis con viva Penates, 

pauper, at in terra nil nisi fieret opes.* 
non tulit haec Paetus, stridorem audire procellae 

et duro teneras laedere fune raanus ; 
sed Chio thalamo aut Oricia terebintlio 

et fultum pluma versicolore caput. 50 

huic fluctus vivo radicitus abstulit ungues, 

et miser invisam traxit hiatus aquam ; 
hunc parvo ferri vidit nox improba ligno : 

Paetus ut occideret, tot coiere mala, 
flens tamen extremis dedit haec mandata querelis, 

cum moribunda niger clauderet ora liquor : 
« Di maris Aegaei quos sunt penes aequora, 
venti, 

et quaecuraque meura degravat unda caput, 

1 Argynni v : ngynni N : argioni FL. Mimantis aquas Mia : 
niiriantis aquae NFL. 

2 21-24 transposed by Scalifjer after 38. 
8 solum r: ?-o\\ NFL. 

4 nisi r : ubi NFL. tieret opes Baehrcm : flere potest A tL. 

198 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

be thine. There are shores that bear witness to 
Agamemnon's woe^ where the doom of Argynnus 
brands the waves of Mimas ; for the loss of this boy 
Ati'ides would not launch his ships and for this tarrying 
was Iphigenia slain. The rocks of Caphareus brake 
a triumphant fleet, when shipwrecked Greece was 
engulfed by the wild brine. Ulysses wept the loss 
of his comrades one by one ; against the sea alone 
his wiles had no power. 

^^ But if Paetus had been content to plough his 
fields with his father's kine, and had counted my 
words of weight, still would he live to feast in 
merriment befoi'e his household gods ; poor though 
he were, yet on dry land would he have naught 
to beweep, save only lack of Avealth. Paetus could 
not endure to hear the shrieking gale, nor to wound 
his delicate hands with the hard cordage ; his 
rather to lie in a chamber of Chian marble or on 
a couch of Orician terebinth, his head propped on 
down of rainbow hues. Yet from him while still he 
lived did the wave rend his nails, and right loth, 
poor wi-etch, his gasping throat gulped down the 
waters : yet him did the wild night see borne on a 
slender plank : so many ills conspired for the death 
of Paetus. Natheless with his last lamentations he 
gave this charge and wept, when the dark wave was 
closing his dymg lips : " Ye gods of the Aegean that 
have power over the waters, ye winds and every 
wave that weighs down my head, whither snatch ye 



199 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LTRER III 

quo rapitis miseros primae lanuginis annos ? 

attulimus nocuas ^ in freta vestra manus ? 60 

a miser alcyonum scopulis affligar acutis ! 

in me caeruleo fuscina sumpta deo est. 
at saltem Italiae regionibus evehat aestus : 

hoc de me sat erit si modo matris erit." 
subtrahit haec fantem torta vertigine fluctus ; 

ultima quae Paeto voxque diesque fuit. 
o centum aequoreae Nereo genitore puellae, 

et tu materno tracta dolore Thetis ; 
vos decuit lasso supponere bracchia mento : 

non poterat vestras ille gravare manus : 70 

at tu, saeve Aquilo, numquam mea vela videbis : 

ante fores dominae condar oportet iners. 



VIII 

DvLcis ad hesternas fuerat mihi rixa lucernas, 

vocis et insanae tot maledicta tuae, 
cum 2 furibunda mero mensam propellis et in me 

proicis insana cymbia plena manu. 
tu vero nostros audax invade capillos 

et mea formosis unguibus ora nota, 
tu minitare oculos subiecta exurere flamma, 

fac mea rescisso pectora nuda sinu ! 
nimirum veri dantur mihi signa caloris : 

nam sine amore gravi femina nulla dolet. 10 

1 nocuas Ilousman : loiifjas NFL. 

2 cum Beroaldus : cur NFL. 

200 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

the hapless years of my first bloom ? Was there 
guilt on the hands that I brought to your seas ? Ah ! 
woe is me ! The sharp rocks where the seamew 
nests shall batter me ! The god of the blue deep 
hath smitten me with his trident. Yet at least may 
the tide cast me up on Italian shores : little though 
there be left of me, 'twill suffice if but it reach my 
mother." Even as he spake these words the wave 
with twisting eddy dragged him down ; thus passed 
from Paetus speech and life together. 

^' Ye hundred daughters of Nereus, maids of the 
sea, and thou Thetis, whom a mother's love once drew 
from out the deep, ye should have placed your arms 
beneath his weary chin : he was no heavy burden for 
your hands. But thou, fierce wind of the North, 
never shalt thou see my sails ; mine rather before my 
mistress' doors to lay me down, adventuring naught. 



VIII 

Right glad am I of our brawl by the lamplight yester- 
eve and all the railings of thy frenzied tongue, when 
mad with wine thou didst thrust away the table and 
cast goblets of wine at me with angry hand. Nay, 
be bold ! Assail my hair and scar my face with thy 
fair talons ! Threaten to hold fire beneath mine eyes 
and burn them from their sockets ! Tear my raiment 
and leave my bosom bare ! 

^ In all this forsooth thou givest me tokens of thy 
passion's truth : never is woman vexed, save if her 



201 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 
quae mulier rabida ^ iactat convicia lingua, 

haec 2 Veneris magnae volvitur ante pedes, 
custodum gregibus circa se stipat euntem, 

seu sequitur medias, Maenas ut icta, vias, 
seu timidam crebro dementia sonuiia terrent, 

seu miseram in tabula picta puella movet : 
his ego tormentis animi sum verus haruspex, 

has didici certo saepe in amore notas. 
non est carta fides, quam non in iurgia vertas : ^ 

hostibus eveniat lenta puella meis. 20 

in morso aequales videant mea i-oilnera collo : 

me doceat livor mecum habuisse meam. 
aut in amore dolere volo aut audire dolentem, 

sive tuas lacrimas sive videre meas,* 
tecta superciliis si quando verba remittis, 

aut tua cum digitis scripta silenda notas. 
odi ego quae numquam pungunt suspiria somnos : 

semper in irata pallidus esse velim. 
dulcior ignis erat Paridi, cum Graia ^ per arma 

Tyndaridi poterat gaudia ferre suae : 30 

dum vincunt Danai, dum restat barbarus Hector, 

ille Helenae in gremio maxima bella gerit. 
aut tecum aut pro te mihi cum rivalibus arma 

semper erunt : in te pax mihi nulla placet. 

1 rabida Sccdiger : gravida NFL. 

2 hncc Livineius : et NFL. 

3 iuiurgia N : iniuria FL. vertas Vahlen: versat N^L' 
vcrtat /". 

4 tuas . . . meas Sand.-^trom : nieaa . . . iuas NFL. 
* Graia Fruter : grata NFL. 

«03 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

love be strong. She, that hurls taunts with raving 
tongue, lies grovelling at the feet of mighty Venus ; 
she throngs herself close Avith flocks of guardians/ 
or rushes down the street like some frenzied Maenad ; 
or wild dreams fright her timid soul continually, or 
the painted portrait of some girl fills her with woe. 
From all these torments of soul I draw sure ausuries : 
these have I learned to be the signs of constant 
passion. No love is constant that cannot be provoked 
to quarrel : be girls that naught may move the fate 
of them that hate me. 

2^ Let my comrades see the wounds where her teeth 
have torn my neck ; let dark bruises show that my 
love hath been with me. I Avould have sorrow myself 
in love, or else hear thine ; I would see thy tears or 
else mine own, that fall if ever thou sendest secret 
messages with nodding brow, or with thy fingers 
writest words thou wouldst not speak aloud. I hate 
those sighs that never break through sleep : 'tis for 
an angry mistress I Avould ever be pale with longing. 
Sweeter to Paris was his passion's fire, when he must 
cleave his way through the hosts of Greece ere he 
could bring joy to his love, the daughter of Tyn- 
dareus. While the Danaans conquered, while savage 
Hector barred their path, he waged a mightier war 
in Helen's arms. Either with thee or for thee with 
my rival will I wage truceless war : where tliou art, 
peace hath for me no pleasure. ^ 

1 I.e., to excite her lover's jealousy and lure hiui back. 

2 Lit., vrhere thou art concerned. 



203 



SEXTI PROPRRTI ET.EGTARVM LIBER III 

VIITa^ 

Gavde, quod nulla est aeque formosa : doleres, 
si qua foret : nunc sis iure superba licet. 

at tibi, qui nostro nexisti ^ retia lecto, 

sit socer aeternum nee sine matre domus ! 

cui nunc si qua data est furandae copia noctis, 

offensa ilia mihi, non tibi arnica, dedit. 40 



IX 

Maecenas, eques Etrusco de sanguine regum, 

intra fortunam qui cupis esse tuam, 
quid me scribendi tarn vastum mittis in aequor ? 

non sunt apta meae gvandia vela rati, 
turpe est, quod nequeas, capiti committere pondus 

et pressum inflexo mox dare terga genu, 
omnia non pariter rerum sunt omnibus aj)ta, 

palma ^ nee ex aequo ducitur ulla iugo. 
gloria Lysippo est animosa eflingere signa ; 

exactis Calamis se mihi iactat equis ; 10 

in Veneris tabula summam sibi poscit Apelles ; 

Parrhasius parva vindicat arte locum ; 
araumenta mao-is sunt Mentoris addila formae ; 

at Myos exiguum flectit acanthus iter ; 

^ A^o hirak in NFL, separated by Butler. 

2 ne\\?t'\ Prlsciamts and Diomedes : tendisti iV/'Z. 

3 pahiia S": Hamina NFL. 

204, 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



VIIIa 

Rejoice that none is fair as thou ! Thou wouldst 
grieve if there were any. But now thou hast just 
cause for pride. 

3' But for thee^ tliat didst spread a snare for our 
love, may thy wife's father Hve for ever and thy house 
ne'er have peace from her mother ! If ever thou 
wast granted the boon of one stolen night, 'twas 
anger against me, not love for thee, that made her 
grant it. 

IX 

Maecenas, knight sprung from the blood of Tuscan 
kings, that wouldst fain abide within thy fortune's 
scope, why dost thou launch me on so wide a sea of 
song .^ Such spreading canvas suits not a bark like 
mine, 

^ It brings but shame to take upon thine head a 
burden that thou canst not bear, and soon to bow 
the knee and turn in flight. All things are not meet 
alike for all men ; from different heights the palm of 
fame is won.i 'Tis Lysippus' glory to mould statues 
with all the fire of life ; Calamis, methinks, boasts the 
perfection of his carven steeds ; Apelles claims his 
highest glory from liis painting of Venus ; Parrhasius 
asserts his place by his miniature art ; groujjs rather 
are the themes of Mentor's mould ; in the works of 
Mys the acanthus winds on its brief way ; the Jove 

1 The line is very obscure. The alternative is to take iugo 
= chariot-yoke and interpret "no prize is won by him whose 
car runs level with another's." Professor J. S. Eeid conjectures 
e Coo . . . ilia—'' such glory is not to be won from the Coan 
[Philetean] Parnassus." 

205 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER 111 

Phidiacus signo se luppiter ornat eburno ; 

Praxitelen Triopos venditat ^ urbe lapis, 
est quibus Eleae concurrit palma quadrigae, 

est quibus in celeres gloria nata pedes ; 
hie satus ad pacem, hie castrensibus utilis armis : 

naturae sequitur semina quisque suae. 20 

at tua, Maecenas, vitae praeceptii recepi, 

cogor et exemplis te superare tuis. 
cum tibi Romano dominas in honore secures 

et liceat medio ponere iura foro ; 
vel tibi Medorum pugnaces ire per hastas,^ 

atque onerare tuam fixa per arma douium ; 
et tibi ad effectum vires det Caesar, et omni 

tempore tarn faciles insinuentur opes ; 
parcis et in tenues humilem te colligis umbras : 

velorum plenos subtrahis ipse sinus. 30 

crede mihi, magnos aequabunt ista Camillos 

iudicia, et venies tu quoque in ora virum, 
Caesaris et fomae vestigia iuncta tenebis : 

Maecenatis erunt vera troj)aca fides. 
non ego velifera tumidum mare findo carina : ^ 

tota sub exiguo flumine nostra mora est. 
non flebo in cineres areem sedisse paternos 

Cadmi nee septem proelia clade pari ; 
nee referam Scaeas et Pergama Apollinis arces, 

et Danaum decimo vere rcdisse rates, 40 

^ Triopos Richmond : propria NFL. venditat Burmann : 
vindicat NFL. 

2 liastas Markland : hostes NFL. 

3 35 om. N. 

206 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

of Phidias arrays himself in a statue of ivory ; the 
marble in Triops' city gives Praxiteles glory. Some 
race their victorious chariots ^ at Elis ; for the. swift 
feet of some was glory born ; one was begotten for 
peace, another is meet for the weapons of Avar ; each 
man follows the seeds of his own nature. 

2^ But I, Maecenas, have taken to heart thy rule 
of life, and am driven to vanquish thee with thine 
own example. Though as a magistrate of Rome 
thou mightest jjlant thme imperious axes where thou 
wouldst and deal justice in the Forum's midst ; though 
thou mightest pass through the fierce Medians' spears 
and load thy house with trophies of arms ; though 
Caesar gives thee strength for success, and at all 
seasons ready wealth pours into thy purse, yet boldest 
thou back and dost withdraw in lowly wise to modest 
shades, and of thine own choice furlest the swelling 
canvas of thy sails. Believe me, thy resolve shall 
rival the great deeds of Camillus, and thou also shalt 
be a name upon the lips of men, and thy footsteps 
shall accompany the fame of Caesar ; thy lovaltv, 
Maecenas, shall be thy true trophy of triumph. I 
cleave not the swelling sea with sail-borne keel : 
I do but loiter in the shelter of a little stream. I 
will not tell in tearful strain how Cadmus' citadel 
sank into ashes beneath the P'atlier's fire,^ nor of 
the seven fights, each closed with like disaster ; 
I will not tell of the Scaean gate and Pergama, 
Apollo's citadel, nor how the Danaan ships returned 
in the tenth spring, when the wooden horse, wrought 

^ palma quadrigae = quadriga quae palmam petit. 

2 U patcrnos be correct (and there is no satisfactory correc- 
tiou), the phrase must mean " ashes resulting from tlie father- 
hood " of Jupiter— t'.e., caused by the destruction of Semele and 
the palace of Cadmus at the birth of Bacchus, when Jupiter 
appeared in all his fiery glory to Semele. 

207 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

moenia cum Graio Ncptunia pressit aratro 

victor Palladiae ligneus artis equus. 
inter Callimachi sat erit placuisse libellos 

et cecinisse modis^ Dore ^ poeta, tuis. 
haec urant pueros, haec urant scripta pucUas, 

meque deum clament et mihi sacra ferant ! 
te duce vel lovis arma canam caeloque minantem 

Coeum et Phlegraeis Jlurymedonta * iugis ; 
eductosque pares silvestri ex ubere reges, 51 

ordiar et caeso moenia firma Remo, 50 

celsaque Romanis decerpta palatia tauris ^ 49 

crescet et ingenium sub tua iussa meum ! 
prosequar et currus utroque ab litore ovantes, 

Partliorum astutae tela remissa fugae^ 
castraque Pelusi Romano subruta ferro, 

Antonique graves in sua fata manus. 
mollis tu coeptae fautor cape lora iuventae, 

dexteraque inmiissis da mihi signa rotis. 
lioc mihi, Maecenas, laudis conccdis, et a te est 

quod ferar in partes ipse fuisse tuas. 60 

1 Dore Scriverius : dure NFL. 

- Eurymedonta Iluschke : oromedoiita NFL. 

8 49 and 51 transposed by Peiper. 



208 



I 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

by the cunning of Pallas^ won the day and made 
the walls, that Neptune built, to be razed by the 
Greek plough. Enough for me to have found accept- 
ance among the books of Callimachus and to have 
sung, O Dorian poet, in strains like thine. Let my 
writings kindle boys and girls to love ! Let them 
acclaim me as a god and bring me sacrifice ! 

*' Be thou my leader, then will I sing of the arms 
of Jove, of Coeus threatening heaven and Eurymedon 
on Phlegra's hills : then will I set forth to tell of 
the kings that were reared together at the wild 
beast's teat, of the walls that were established by 
the slaying of Remus, and of the lofty Palatine 
grazed by the steers of Rome ; and my wit shall 
grow to the height of thy commands. I will hyinn 
thy chariots that triumph from the East and from 
the West, the shafts now idle of the Parthian's 
crafty flight, the camp of Pelusium o'erthrown by 
the sword of Rome, and Antony whose own hands 
wrought his dooin. 

^' Do thou but grant thy kindly favour, take the 
reins that guide my youthful course and give me 
favouring applause when my wheels speed forth in 
the race. This is the glory thou gi*antest me, 
Maecenas, and to thee 'tis due that men shall say 
that I, even I, have followed thine example. 



209 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 



MiHABAR, quidnam misisseut mane Camciiae, 

ante meiim stantes sole rubente torum. 
natalis nostrae signum misere puellae 

et manibus faustos ter crepuere sonos. 
transeat hie sine nube dies, stent aere venti, 

ponat et in sicco molliter unda minax. 
aspiciam nullos hodierna luce dolentes, 

et Niobae lacrimas supprimat ipse lapis, 
alcyonum positis requiescant ora querelis, 

increpet absuniptum nee sua mater Ityn. 10 

tuque, o cara mihi, felicibus edita pennis, 

surge et poscentes iusta precare deos. 
ac primum pura somnum tibi discute lynipha, 

et nitidas prcsso pollice finge comas : 
dein qua primum oculos cepi^ti veste Properti 

indue, nee vacuum flore relinqiie caput ; 
et pete, qua polles, ut sit tibi forma perennis, 

inque meum semper stent lua regna caput. 
inde coronatas ubi ture piaveris aras, 

luxerit et tota flamma secunda dorao, 20 

sit mensae ratio, noxque inter pocula currat, 

ct crocino nares murreus uiigat onyx, 
tibia nocturnis succumbat rauca choreis, 

et sint nequitiae libera verba tuae, 
dulciaque ingratos adimant convivia somnos, 

publica vicinae perstrepat aura viae : 
210 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 111 



X 

I WONDERED what 0111611 the Muses had sent me as 
they stood before my couch in the red sunhglit 
of dawn. They sent me a token that 'twas the 
birthday of my mistress, and thrice with propitious 
sound they clapped their hands. May this day pass 
to its close without a cloud, may the Avinds be motion- 
less in heaven, and may the threatening wave sink to 
calm on the dry shore. To-day may 1 see none that 
mourn, and may even the rock that is Niobe with- 
hold its tears. May the sea-birds' mouths have rest, 
hushed from their wailing, and the mother of Itys 
cease to moan his death. 

1^ And do thou, beloved, born under happy augu- 
ries, rise and ])ray to the gods that demand their due 
offering. First with pure water wash sleep from off 
thee, and witli thy finger's impress tire thy shining 
hair. Next don that robe wherein thou first didst 
snare the eyes of Propertius, and let thy brows not 
lack a crown of flowers. And pray that the beauty 
that is thy might may endure alway, and that thou 
mayest be the queen of my heart for ever. Then 
when thou hast appeased the wreathed altars with 
incense and their fire hath flashed its blessing through 
all the house, give thy thouglits to feasting. Let night 
speed mid tlie wine-cup, and let the casket of yellow 
onyx make glad our nostrils with oil of saffron ; let 
the hoarse pipe blow for the midnight dance till it 
give o'er for weariness, and let thy wanton words 
come fast and free. Let the merry banquet keep 
unwelcome slumbers far, and let the air of the neijxh- 
bouring street ring loud that all may hear. Let us 

211 



SEXTI PROPERTl ELEGIARVM LIBEU III 

sit sors et nobis talorum interprete iactu, 
quern gravibus pennis verberet ille \nwr. 

cum fuerit multis exacta trientibus hora, 

noctis et instituet sacra ministra Venus, 30 

annua solvamus tlialamo soUemnia nostro, 
natalisque tui sic peragamus iter. 



XI 

QviD mirare, meam si versat femina vitam 

et trahit addictum sub sua iura virum, 
criminaque ignavi capitis milii turpia fingis^ 

quod nctpicani fracto rumpere vincla iiigo? 
venturani melius praesagit navita mortem/ 

vulneribus didicit miles habere metum. 
ista ego praeterita iactavi verba iuventa : 

tu nunc exemplo disce timere meo. 
Colchis flagrantes adamantina sub iuga tauros 

egit et armigera proelia sevit humo, 10 

custodisque feros clausit serpentis hiatus, 

iret ut Aesonias aurea lana domos. 
ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis 

Maeotis Danaum Penthesilea rates ; 
aurea cui postquam nudavit cassida frontem, 

vicit victorem Candida forma virum. 
Om})hale in tantum formae processit honorem, 

Lydia Gygaeo tincta puella lacu, 

i venturam NFL, perhaps corrupt : ventorum S. G. Owen, 
mortem NFL: motum -S. G. Owen. 

212 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

cast lots, let the fall of the dice reveal to us those 
whom the boy god lashes with heavy pinions. And 
then when the hours have been sped by many a 
goblet and Venus appoints those mysteries that 
wait on night, let us with all solemnity perform the 
anniversary's rite in our chamber, and thus complete 
the path of thy natal day. 



XI 

Why marvellest thou that a woman sways my life 
and drags my manhood captive beneath her rule ? 
Why falsely dost thou hurl at me the foul taunt of 
cowardice, because 1 cannot snap my chains and break 
my yoke ? 'Tis the mariner best foretells his coming 
doom, 'tis wounds that teach the soldier fear. I once 
sjjake boasts like thine in my past youth ; now let my 
example teach thee to be afraid. 

^ The witch of Colchis drove the fiery bulls beneath 
the adamantine yoke and sowed battles in the war- 
rior-bearing earth, and closed the fierce, gaping jaws 
of the guardian snake, that the fleece of ffold mijrht 
go to Aeson's halls. Maeotian Penthesilea once dared 
on horseback to assail the Danaan ships with her 
arrows, even she whose bright beauty conquered the 
conquering hero, when the helm of gold laid bare her 
brow. Omphale, the maid of Lydia, bathed in the 
Gygean lake, rose to such renown of beauty that, 



213 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

ut, qui pacato statuisset in orbe columnas, 

tarn dura traheret moUia pensa manu. 20 

Persarum statuit Babylona Semiramis urbem, 

ut solidum cocto tolleret aggere opus, 
et duo in adversum mitti ^ per moenia currus 

nee possent tacto stringere ah axe latus ; 
duxit et Euj)hratem medium, quam condidit, arcis,^ 

iussit et iniperio subdere ^ Ractra caput, 
nam quid ego heroas, quid raptem in crimine 
divos ? 

Iui)piter infamat seque suamque domiim. 
quid, modo quae nostiis opj)iobria vexerit armis 

et famulos inter femina trita suos, 30 

coniugis obsceni pretium Roniana poposcit 

moenia et addictos in sua regna Patres ? 
noxia Alexandria, dolis aptissima tellus, 

et totiens nostro Memphi cruenta malo, 
iris ubi Pompeio deti*axit liarena triumphos ! 

toilet nulla dies banc tibi, Roma, notam. 
issent Pblegraeo melius tibi funera campo, 

vel tua si socero colla daturus eras, 
scilicet incesti mcretrix regina Canopi, 

una Philippeo sanguine adusta nota, 40 

ansa lovi nostro latrantem opponere Anubim, 

et Tiberim Nili cogere ferre minas, 
Romanamque tubam crepitanti pellere sistro, 

l^aridos et contis rostra Liburna sequi, 

1 initti Tyrrell : mi.ssi NFL. 

2 quam FL : qua N. arcis Barhrcns : arces NFL. 

3 subdere Burmann : surgere A'FL. 
21 i 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

he, who had set up his pillars in the world he had 
tamed to peace, with horny hands plucked soft tasks 
of wool. Semiramis stablished Babylon, the Persian's 
city, in such wise that it rose a solid mass with wall 
of brick, and two chariots might be sent to meet 
each other nor graze their sides with touching axles ; 
and through the midst of the citadel which she 
founded she led Euphrates, and bade Bactra bow its 
head to her sway. 

2' Why should I tell of heroes, why taunt the 
gods with sin .'' Jove brings shame on himself and 
on his house. Why should I tell of her that of late 
heaped insults on our arms, that woman who found 
lovers even among her slaves, and claimed the walls 
of Rome and the Senate enslaved to her tyranny as 
a fee from her foul paramour .'' Guilty Alexandria, 
land most skilled in guile, and Memphis so often 
bloodstained with our woe, where the sand robbed 
Pompey of his three triumphs ! No day shall ever free 
thee of this stain, O Rome I Better for thee, Pompey, 
had thy funeral gone forth on the Phlegrean plain,l 
or hadst thou been doomed to bow thy neck to thy 
wife's father ! Forsooth the harlot queen of unchaste 
Canopus, the one disgrace branded on Rome by tlie 
race of Philip, dared to match barking Anubis against 
our Roman Jove, to force Tiber to endure the threats 
of Nile, to drive out the Roman trumpet with rattling 
sistrum^ and with jiolcd barge to pursue the I.,ibur- 
nian galley, to stretch her foul curtains ^ on the 

1 Pompey fell ill at Naples in 50 B.C. Propertius sa3'.s he 
would have been happier had he died then. The Phlegrean 
plains are near Naples. See Index. 

2 The sistrum was a rattle used in the worshij) of Isis. 

3 I.e., mosquito-nets. 



215 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELKGIARVM LIBER III 

foedaque Tarpeio conopia tendere saxo, 

iura dare et statuas inter et anna Mari. 46 

septem urbs alta iugis, toto quae praesidet orbi, .07 

femineas ^ timuit territa Marte minas.^ 58 

quid nunc Tarquinii fraetas iuvat esse secures, 47 

nomine quern siniili vita superba notat, 
si mulier paticnda fuit ? cape, Roma, triumplium 

et longum Augusto salva precare diem ! 50 

fugisti tamen in timidi vaga ^ flumina Nili : 

accepere tuae Romula vincla manus. 
bracchia spectavi sacris admorsa colubris, 

et trahere occultum membra soporis iter. 
" Non hoc, Roma, fui ^ tanto tibi cive verenda ." " 

dixit et assiduo lingua sepulta mero. 56 

Curtius expletis statuit monumenta lacunis, 6l 

at Decius misso proelia rupit equo, 
Coclitis abscisses testatur semita pontes, 

est ^ cui cognomen corvus habere dedit : 
haec di condiderant, haec di quoque moenia 
servant : 

vix tinieat salvo Caesare Uoma lovem. 
nunc ubi Soipiadae classes, ubi signa Camilli, 

aut modo Pompeia Bospore capta manu, 68 

Haiuiibalis spolia et victi monumenta Syphacis, 59 

et Pyrrlii ad nostros gloria fracta pedes ? ^ 60 

'' femineo Postgate : femineas NFL. 

2 57. 5S transposed by Butler after 46. 5S om. A'. 

■o \ivra, g- : viula NFL. * fui S" : fuit NFL. 

B esl J'uccius : et NFL. 

6 50, (JO transposed by I'asscrat after GS. 

216 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 
Tarpeian rock^ and to give judgment amid the arms 
and statues of Marius. The city high-throned on the 
seven hills, the queen of all the world, was terrified 
by a woman's might and feared her threats ! What 
boots it now to have broken the axes of Tarquin, whose 
proud life brands him with the name of "proud," if 
we must needs endure a woman's tyranny ? Rome, 
take thy triumph and, saved from doom, implore 
long life for Augustus. Yet didst thou fly, O queen, 
to the wandering streams of timorous Nile ! Thy 
hands received the chains of Rome. I saw her arms 
bitten by the sacred asps, I saw her limbs drink in 
slumber as it worked its secret way. " Thou needst 
not have feared me, Rome, with such a citizen to 
guard thee ! " so spake even the tongue that deep 
draughts of wine had enslaved. 

^1 Curtius closed the gulf and made himself an ever- 
lasting memorial : Decius brake the battle-line with 
charging steed ; the path of Codes still tells of the 
cutting of the bridge : and one there is who won his 
name from a raven. The gods founded these walls, 
and the gods protect them ; while Caesar lives scarce 
should Rome fear the wrath of Jove ! Now where 
are Scipio's fleets, where the standards of Camillus, 
or thou, O Bosporus, so lately captured by the might 
of Pompey } Where are the spoils of Hannibal and 
the trophies of conquered Syphax, and Pyrrhus' glory 



217 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

Leucadius versas acies memorabit Apollo : 69 

tantum operis belli sustulit una dies. 70 

at tu, sive petes portus seu, navita, liiiques, 
Caesaris in toto sis memor Ionic. 



XII 

PosTVME, plorantem potuisti linquere Gallam, 

miles et Augusti fortia signa sequi ? 
tantine ulla fuit spoliati gloria Parthi, 

ne faceres ^ Galla multa rogante tua ? 
si fas est, omnes pariter pereatis avari, 

et quisquis fido praetulit arma toro ! 
tu taraen iniecta ^ tectus, vesane, lacerna 

potabis galea fessus Araxis aquam. 
ilia quid em interea f'ama tabescet inani, 

haec tua ne virtus fiat amara tibi, 10 

neve tua Medae laetentur caede sagittae, 

ferreus aurato neu cataphractus equo, 
neve aliquid de te flendum referatur in urna : 

sic redeuntj^ illis qui cecidere locis. 
ter quater in casta felix, o Postume, Galla ! 

moribus his alia coniuge dignus eras ! 
quid faciet nuUo munita puella timore, 

cum sit luxuriae Roma magisti'a suae ? * 
sed securus eas : Gallam non muuera vincent, 

duritiacque tuae non erit ilia mcmor. 20 

1 faceres iV; facias /"Z. a iniecta /ta^t; intocta \FL. 
8 sic redeunt 5" : si creduat N: si credent FL, 
* suae r : tuae NFL. 

218 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

broken beneath our feet ? Leucadian Apollo shall 
tell how the hosts were turned to flight : one day of 
war swept away so vast an armament ! But do thou, 
O mariner^ whether thou seekest or leavest the haven, 
remember Caesar o'er all the Ionian main. 



XII 

PosTUMuSj hadst thou the heart to leave Galla weep- 
ing and to follow the gallant standards of Augustus 
to the wars ? Was any glory from Parthia's spoils 
worth aught to thee, when thy Galla oft prayed 
thee not to go? If it be lawful, may all ye that 
are greedy for gold perish alike, and with you the 
man that loves arms more than a faithful bride ! 

' Yet thou, madman, with thy cloak cast about thee 
for covering shalt drink the water of Araxes from 
thy helmet when thou ai-t weary ; and she meanwhile 
will pine at each idle rumour, for fear lest thy valour 
cost thee dear, or lest the Median arrows rejoice 
in thy death or the mailed soldier on his gilded 
steed ; or lest some scanty relics of thee be brought 
home in an urn for her to weep ; thus they return 
that perish in those lands. 

1^ Thrice and four times blest, O Postumus, art 
thou in Galla's chastity ! With a heart like thine 
thou wast Avorthy of a different spouse ! What will a 
woman do with no fear for safeguard, when there is 
Rome to teach its luxury? But go without fear ; no 
gifts shall conquer Galla and she will not remember 



219 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 
nam quocumque die salvum te fata remittent, 

pendebit collo Galla piidica tuo. 
Postumus alter erit miranda coniuge Vlixes : 

non illi longae tot nocuere morae, 
castra decern aiinorum, et Ciconiun mons Ismara, 
Calpe, 

exustaeque tuae niox, Polypheme, genae, 
et Circae fraudes, lolosque herbaeque tenaces, 

Scyllaque et alternas scissa Charybdis aquas, 
Lampeties Ithacis veribus mugisse iuvencos 

(paverat hos Phoebo filia Lanipetie), 30 

et thalamum Aeaeae flentis fugisse puellae, 

totque hiemis noctes totque natasse dies, 
nigrantesque domos animarum intrasse sileutiuu, 

Sirenum surdo remige adisse lacus, 
et veteres arcus leto renovasse procorum, 

errorisque sui sic statuisse moduni. 
nee friistra, quia casta domi pcrsederat uxor. 

vincit Penelopes Aelia ^ Galla fidem. 

XIII 

QvAERiTis, unde avidis nox sit pretiosa puellis, 
et Venerem exiiaustae damna querantui- oj)es 

certa quidem tantis causa et manifesta ruinis ; 
luxuriae nimium libera facta via est. 

Inda cavis aurum mittit formica metallis, 
et venit e Rubro concha Erycina salo, 
I Aelia Passeral : laelia ?^'FL. 

220 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

thy ci-uelty. For whensoe'er fate sends thee home 
in safety, chaste Gal la shall hang about thy neck. 
Postumus shall be another Ulysses with a wife to wake 
men's wonder : no hurt did Ulysses suffer from his 
long tarrying, no hurt from the ten years' leaguer, 
from Ismara the Ciconians' mount, from Calpe, and 
thereafter the burning of thine eye, O Polyphemus ; 
no hurt from the guile of Circe, the lotos with its 
binding spell, nor from Scylla and Chary bdis, cloven 
with alternate ebb and flow, nor when Lampetie's 
oxen bellowed on the Ithacan spits (Lampetie, 
Phoebus' daughter, had pastured them for her sire), 
nor when he fled from the couch of Aeaea's weeping 
queen, or swam the deep so many nights and days, 
entered the dark halls of the silent ghosts, and Avith 
deaf oarsmen drew nigh the Siren's pools, revived 
his ancient bow with the suitors' slaughter, and thus 
set a term to his wanderings. And not in vain, for 
liis wife had remained true to him at home. Aelia 
Galla shall surpass Penelope's fidelity. 



XIII 

Ye ask, wherefore the greed of women makes their 
love so costly, and wherefore our empty coffers cry 
out that Venus has been their bane. Clear and 
undoubted is the cause of such vast ruin ; the path 
of luxury has grown overfree. The Indian ant ^ 
sends gold from the caves of the mine, the nautilus 
1 Botfi Pliny and Herodotus assert that somewhere in 
India gold-dust was brought from underground by ants in 
wuiter, and in summer stolen by the Indians, the ants having 
retired to their nests owing to the heat. 

221 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELKGIARVM LIBER III 

et Tyros ostrinos praebet Cadmea colores, 

cinnamon et multi pastor odoris Arabs : 
haec etiam clausas expugnant arma pudicas, 

quacque gerunt ^ fastuSj Icarioti, tuos. 10 

matrona inccdit census induta nepotum 

et sj)olia opprobrii nostra per ora ti'ahit. 
nulla est poscendi, nulla est reverentia dandi, 

aut si qua est, pretio tollitur ipsa mora, 
felix Eois lex funeris una maritis, 

quos Aurora suis rubra colorat equis ! 
namque ubi mortifero iacta est fax ultima Iccto, 

uxoruni fusis stat pia turba coniis, 
et certamen habent leti, quae viva sequatur 

coniugium : pudor est non licuisse mori. 20 

ardent victrices et flammae pectora praebent, 

imponuntque suis ora perusta viris. 
hoc genus infidum nuptarum, hie nulla puella 

nee fida Euadne nee pia Penelope, 
felix agrestum quondam pacata inventus, 

divitiae quorum messis et arbor erant ! 
illis munus erant decussa^ Cydonia ramo, 

et dare puniceis plena canistra rubis, 
nunc violas tondere manu, nunc mixta refcrre 

lilia virgineos lueida per ealathos, 30 

et portare suis vestitas frondibus uvas 

aut variam plumae versicoloris ^ avem. 
his turn blanditiis furtiva per antra puellae 

oscula silvicolis empta dedere viris. 

*■ gerunt Scioppius : lerunt NFL. 

2 decussa FL: discussa N. 

3 versicoloris r : viricoloris iV^i^x .• viliicoloris /:?//«. 

222 



\ 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 111 
shell comes from the Red Sea ; Cadmean Tyre sends 
hues of purple, and the Arab shepherd rich-scented 
cinnamon. These weapons storm the hearts even of 
close-guarded virgins and such as are cold as thou, O 
daughter of Icarius. Matrons go forth arrayed in 
spendthrifts' fortunes and flaunt the spoils of infamy 
before our eyes. No shame is there in asking or in 
giving ; or if any there be, even reluctance is banished 
at a price. 

^^ Blest is that peerless law for the burial of Eastern 
husbands, whom the crimson dawn colours with her 
steeds ! For when the last torch is set to the dead 
man's bier his wives stand round, a pious company 
with streaming hair, and struggle for death one with 
another, who living shall follow her dead lord ; 'tis 
shame to be debarred from death. The victors burn 
and offer their breasts to the flame and lay charred faces 
on their husband's body. But here the race of brides 
is faithless ; here doth no woman show Evadne's faith 
or Penelope's loyalty. 

25 Happy the young that dwelt in peace of old, 
whose wealth was in harvest and orchard. Their 
offerings were Cydonian apples shaken from the 
bough ; they gave baskets filled with purple brambles, 
now with their hands plucked violets, now brought 
home shining lilies mingled together in the maidens' 
paniers, and cai-ried grapes clad in their own leaves 
or some dappled bird of rainbow plumage. Bought 
by such wooing as this were the kisses that girls 
gave their silvan lovers in secret caves. A roe- 

223 



SEXTI PROPEUTl P:LEGIAIIVM LIBER III 
hinnulei ^ pellis totos operibat amantis, 

altaque native creverat herba toro, 
piiius et incumbeus laetas - circumdabat umbras ; 

nee fuerat nudas poena videre deas ; 
corniger atque dei vacuam pastoris in aulain 

dux aries saturas ipse reduxit oves ; 40 

dique deaeque onines, quibus est tutela per agros, 

praebebant nostris ^ verba benigna focis : 
" Et leporem, quicumque venis, venaberis^ hospes, 

et si forte meo traniite quaeris avem : 
et me Pana tibi comitem de rupe vocato, 

sive petes calamo praeniia, sive cane." 
at nunc desertis cessant sacraria lucis : 

aurum omnes victa iam pietate colunt. 
auro pulsa fideSj auro venalia iura, 

aurum lex sequitur, mox sine lege {)udor. 50 

torrida sacrilegum testantur limina * Brennum, 

dum petit intonsi Pythia regna dei : 
at mox ^ laurigero concussus vertice diras 

Gallica Parnasus sparsit in arma nives. 
te ^ scelus accepto Thracis Polymestoris auro 

nutrit in hospitio non, Polydore^ pio.' 
tu quoque ut auratos gereres, Eripliyla^ lacertos, 

dilapsis nusquam est Amphiaraus equis. 

1 hinnulei Scaliycr : atque hinuli N : atque humili FL. 

2 letas i'.- lentas iVZ. 8 no&ivifi Butler : vestr is NFL. 
* limina N: limiina FL. 6 mox FL: nions N. 

"5 teltali: et NFL. i \>'i>N: tao FL. 

224 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

deer's skin was enougli to cover tv/o lovers, and 
the grass grew tall to make them nature's couch 
The pine bowed o'er them and cast its rich shade 
about them ; nor was it a sin to see goddesses naked : 
the horned ram of his own accord led back his ewes 
sated with grazing to the empty fold of the she{)herd 
god. All gods and goddesses that guard the coun- 
tryside spake kindly words to the hearths of men. 
" Stranger, whoe'er thou art that comest, thou shalt 
hunt the hare in my paths or the bird, if bird thou 
seekest : and whether thou pursuest thy prize with 
lime-rod or with hound, call me Pan from the crag to 
be thy comrade." 

*' But now the shrines lie neglected in deserted 
groves : piety is vanquished and all men Avorship gold. 
Gold has banished faith, gold has made judgment to 
be bought and sold, gold rules the law, and, law once 
gone, rules chastity as well. 

51 Portals of burning fire ^ bear witness to the 
sacrilege of Brennus, when he assailed the Pythian 
realms of the god unshorn : and soon Parnassus shook 
its laurel-bearing peak and scattered di-ead snows 
over the arms of Gaul. Thee, Polydorus, did guilty 
Polymestor, lord of Thrace, won by the lure of gold, 
nurture with treacherous hospitality. That thou too, 
Eriphyla, mightest deck thy shoulders with gold, the 
steeds of Amphiaraus are sunken and earth knows 
him no more. 

^ See p. 157, note 2. The Gauls were discomfited by 
thunder and lightning, a snowstorm and a fall of rocks from 
Parnassus according to Pausanias. 

•» 22.T 



i 



SEXTI PROPEHTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

proloquar : — atque utinani patriae sim verus 
hanispex ! — 

frangitur ipsa suis Roma superba bonis. 60 

certa loquor, sed nulla fides ; neque cnim Ilia 
quondam 

verax Pergameis Maenas habcnda malis : 
sola Parim Phrygiae fatum componere, sola 

fallacem patriae serpere dixit equum. 
ille furor patriae fuit utilis, ille parenti : 

experta est veros irrita lingua deos. 



XIV 

MvLTA tuae, Sparte^ miramur iura palaestrae, 

sed mage virginei tot bona gymnasii, 
quod non infames cxercet corpora ludos ^ 

inter luctantes nuda puella viros^ 
cum pila veloces fallit per bracchia iactus, 

increpat et versi clavis adunca troclii, 
pulverulentaque ad extrenias stat feniina metas, 

et patitur duro vulnera pancratio : 
nunc ligat ad caestum gaudentia bracchia loris, 

missile nunc disci pondus in orbe rotat, 10 

et modo Taygeti, crines aspersa pruina, 1 5 

sectatur patrios per iuga longa canes/ l6 

gyrum pulsat equis, niveum latus ense revincitj 11 

virgineumque cavo protegit aere caput, 



' ludos Anratus: Uudes NFL. 

* 15, 16 transposed after JO by Housman 



2t^b 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

*9 I will speak out ; and may my country find me 
a true seer ! Rome is being shattered by her own 
prosperity. I speak sure truth^ but none believe me ; 
for neither was the frenzied maid of Ilium ever to 
be deemed a true seer amid the woes of Troy : she 
only cried that Paris was building Phx'ygia's doom^ 
she only that^ freighted with treachery, the horse 
stole on her home. Her madness carried profit for 
her country and for her sire. The tongue that none 
believed proved that the gods were true. 



XIV 

At many of the laws of thy wrestling-grounds do I 
marvelj O Sparta, but most at the plenteous blessings 
of the schools where thy women train, inasmuch as 
a girl may without blame disport her body naked 
among wrestling men, when the swift-thrown ball 
cheats the player's grasp and the hooked rod clanks 
against the rolling hoop, and dust-besprinkled the 
woman stands at the race's furthest goal and endures 
wounds in the cruel boxing-match. i^ Now she binds 
the glove to her hands that rejoice in its thongs, now 
whirls in a circle the discus' flying weight ; now with 
hoar-frost sprinkling her hair she follows her father's 
hounds o'er the long ridges of Taygetus, now tramples 
the ring with her steeds, girds the sword to her 
snowy flank and shields her virgin head with hollow 

I The pancratium has no English equivalent : it was a 
rough-and-tumble fight combining boxing and wrestling. 



227 






SEXTI PROPERTl ELEGIARVNt LIBER III 

qualis Amazonidum nudatis bellica mammis 

Themiodontiacis turba lavatur aquis ; 1 1 

qualis et Eurotae Pollux et Castor harcnis/ 17 

hie victor pugnis, ille futurus equis. 
inter quos Helene nudis capere arma papillis 

fertur nee fratres erubuisse decs. 20 

lex igitur Spartana vetat secedere amantes, 

et licet in triviis ad latus esse suae^ 
nee timor aut ulla est clausae tutela puellae, 

nee gravis austeri poena eavenda viri. 
nullo praemisso de rebus tute loquaris 

ipse tuis : longae nulla repulsa morae. 
nee Tyriae vestes errantia lumina fallunt, 

est neque odoratae cura molesta comae. ^ 
at nostra ingenti vadit circumdata turba, 

nee digitum angusta est inseruisse via ; 30 

nee quae sint facies nee quae sint verba rogandi 

invenias : caecum versat amator iter, 
quod si iura fores pugnasque imitata Laconum, 
earior hoc esses tu mihi, Roma, bono. 



XV 

Sic effo non ullos iam norini in amore tuniultus, 
nee veniat sine te nox vigilanda mi hi ! 

ut mihi praetexti pudor est velatus amictus ^ 
et data libertas noscere amoris iter, 

1 haeuia Vohcus : habenis iV; atheu'is FL. 

2 odor.itae FL : adoiatae N. cumae Canter: dotni NFL 

3 praetexti iV.- pv&etexta. FL. amictus i/.- Amicus NF. 

228 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

bronze, like the warrior throng of Amazons who 
bathe bare-bosomed in I'hermodon's stream, or as 
Pollux and Castor on Eurotas' sands, the one destined 
to conquer with his fists, the other with his steeds : 
amid these twain, men say, Helen bared her breasts 
and carried arms, nor called a blush to her brother's 
cheek. 

^^ Thus Sparta's law forbids lovers to hold aloof 
and grants to eacli to walk by his mistress' side in the 
open streets ; there none fear for her honour nor keep 
her under watch and ward : there none need dread 
the bitter vengeance of some stern husband. Thou 
needst no herald ; thyself thou mayst speak of thine 
own business ; no long delay shall affront thee. No 
raiment of 'lyrian purple beguiles the Meandering 
eyes of lovers, nor shall thy mistre:^s vex thee with 
long tiring of lier scented hair. 

2** But here my love goes girt by a vast crowd, 
leaving no narrow passage whereby so much as a 
finger may reach her. Nor canst thou discover what 
mien to wear nor with what words to proffer thy re- 
quest : shrouded in darkness is the path o'er which 
the lover ponders. But if thou, O Rome, wouldst but 
follow the laws and wrestling of the Spartans, then 
wouldst thou be the dearer to me for this blessing. 

XV 

So may I know no further storms in my love, nor 
may ever the night come whereon I must lie wakeful 
without thee ! When the modesty of my boyhood's 
garb ^ was hidden away, and freedom was given me 

1 Before the age of puberty boys wore a striped tojra 
{praetexta). On reaching puberty tliey assumed the toga 
ririlis, which was all of white. 

229 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

ilia rudes animos per noctes conscia primas 
imbuit, lieu nullis capta Lycinna datis ! 

tertius (hand multo minus est) cum ducitur annus, 
vix memini nobis verba coisse decern. 

cuncta tuus sepelivit amor, nee femina post te 

ulla dedit collo dulcia vincla meo. 10 



* testis erit Dirce tarn vero crimine saeva, 

Nycteos Antiopen accubuisse Lyco. 
a quotiens pulchros ussit regina capillos, 

molliaque immites ^ fixit in ora manus ! 
a quotiens fanuil.un pensis oneravit iniquis, 

ct caput in dura ponere iussit humo I 
saepe illam immundis passa est habitare tenebris, 

vilem ieiunae saepe negavit aquani. 
Iu])j)iter, Antiopae nusquam succurris habenti 

tot mala ? corrumpit dura catena manus. 20 

si deus es, tibi turpe tuam servire puellam : 

invocet Antiope qucm nisi vincta ^ lovem ? 
sola tamcn, quaecumque aderant in corpore vires, 

regales manicas rupit utraque manu. 
inde Citliaeronis timido pede currit in arces. 

nox erat, et sparso triste cubile gelu. 
saepe vago '* Asopi sonitu permota fluentis 

crcdebat dominae pone venire pedes. 

' At this point NFL mark a new elegy. Some verses have 
clearly fallen aid. 

2 immites 5": imniiltens JV/X. 

3 vincta r: y\cia. NFL.  vago i^; vagaiN^i/. 

230 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 
to know the paths of love, 'twas she, Lycinna, won, ah 
me ! by no gifts of mine, that initiated my innocent 
soul on those first nights wherein she shared my love. 
'Tis now the third year since then, but little less, and 
I can scarce remember that ten words have passed 
between us. All things thy love has buried, nor since 
thee has any woman cast sweet chains about my neck. 
\_Spare Lycinna, lest vengeance fall on thee /] Dirce 
shall be my witness, Dirce maddened with anger by 
the tale none might gainsay, that Antiope, daughter 
of Nycteus, had lain with Lycus. Ah ! how often 
did the queen burn her fair tresses and clutch her 
tender face with relentless hands ! How often she 
loaded her handmaid with unjust tasks and bade 
her lay her head upon the hard ground ! Often she 
suffered her to dwell in foul darkness, oft she refused 
even worthless water to allay her thirst. Jove, wilt 
thou never aid Antiope so deep in woe ? The 
hard chains gall her hands. If thou art a god, 'tis 
shame that she whom thou didst love should be a 
slave ; on whom should Antiope call from her fetters 
save on Jove ? Yet unaided, summoning all her 
body's strength, with either hand she brake the 
tyrant chains. Then with trembling feet she ran to 
the heights of Cithaeron. 'Twas night, and her 
couch was bitter with scattered frost. Oft scared by 
the wandering sound of the rushing Asopus, she 
deemed that the feet of her mistress were pursuing. 



231 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBF.R III 
et durum Zetlium et lacrimis Ampliiona niollem 

experta est stabulis ^ mater abacta suis. 30 

ac veluti, magnos cum ponunt aequora motus, 

Eurus ubi adverse desinit ire Noto,^ 
litore sic tacito sonitus rarescit liarenae, 

sic cadit inflcxo lapsa puella genu, 
sera, tamen pietas : natis est cognitus error. 

digne lovis natos qui tueare senex, 
tu reddis pueris matrem ; puerique traheiid.ini 

vinxerunt Dircen sub trucis ora bovis. 
Antiope, cognosce lovem : tibi gloria Dirc-e 

ducitur in multis mortem habitura locis. 40 

prata" cruentantur Zethi, victorque canebat 

paeana Amphion rupe, Aracynthe, tua. 
at tu non meritam parcas vexare Lycinnam : 

nescit vestra ruens ira referre pedem. 
fabula nulla tuas de nobis concitet aures : 

te solam et 1 ignis funeris ustus amem. 



XVI 

Nox media, et dominae mihi venit epistula nostrae : 
Tibure me missa iussit adesse mora, 

Candida qua geminas ostendunt culmina turres, 
ij^ et cadit in patulos nympha Aniena lacus. 

quid faciam ? obductis committam mene tcnebris, 
ut timeam audaces in mea membra manus ? 

1 stabulis r : tabulis NFL. 

2 ubiadveivo . . . Noto Zac/imajin ; sub adverse . . . luitho 
N: ill ad versos . . . notos /^/.. 3 jn-ata r : parta NFL, 

232 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

Her tears found Zcthus unmoved and Ami)Iiion 
pitiful^ when she, their mother, was driven from the 
steading that was of right lier own. And as when 
the waves give over their huge heavings, what time 
tlie East Wind ceases to strive with the wind of 
the South-West, and so the shore is stilled and the 
sound of the wave-swept sand grows less and less, so 
gradually sank she down on her bended knee. At 
length, though late, they showed their love ; her sons 
knew their error. Worthy wert thou, old man, to 
tend the sons of Jove ; thou didst restore the mother 
to her boys, and they bound Dirce beneath the head 
of a fierce bull to be (h-agged to death. Antiope, 
recognise the power of Jove ! Dirce, now thy proud 
boast, is drawn along to find death in many a spot. 
The fields of Zethus are red with blood, and Ampliion 
sang the paean of victory on thy rocks, O Aracynthus. 
^^ But do thou spare to torment guiltless Lycinna : 
anger of j ealous woman knows no turning back . And 
may no tale concerning us ever alarm thine ears ; 
may I love thee only even when the funeral pile 
hath consumed me. 



XVI 

'TwAS midnight when a letter came to me from my 
mistress bidding me come without delay to Tibur, 
where the white hills heave up their towers to rio-ht 
and left and Anio's waters plunge into spreadino- 
pools. What should I do? Trust myself to the 
dark that shrouded all and tremble lest my limbs 
should be gripped by ruffian hands ? Yet if 1 should 



233 



SKXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

at si distulero haec nostro mandata timore, 

nocturno fletus saevior lioste milii. 
peccaram semel, et totum sum pulsus ^ in annum : 

in me mansuetas non habet ilia manus. 1 

nee tamen est quisquam, saci'os qui laedat amantes : 

Scironis media sic licet ^ ire via. 
quisquis amator erit, Scythicis licet amhulet ^ oris, 

nemo adeo * ut noeeat barbarus esse volet, 
luna ministrat iter, demonstrant astra salebras, 

ipse Amor accensas praecutit ^ ante faces, 
saeva canum rabies morsus avertit hiantis : 

huic generi quovis tempore tuta via est. 
sanguine tarn parvo quis enim spargatur amantis 

improbus, et cuius sit ^ comes ipsa ^'enus .'' 20 

quod si certa meos sequerentur funera casus, 

tali ' mors pretio vel sit emenda mihi. 
afferet hue unguenta mihi sertisque sepulcrum 

ornabit custos ad mea busta sedens. 
di iaeiant, mea ne terra locet ossa frequenti, 

qua facit assiduo tramite vidgus iter ! 
post mortem tumuli sic infamantur amantuni. 

me tegat arborea devia terra coma, 
aut humer ignotae cumulis vallatus harenae : 

non iuvat in media nomen habere via. 30 

1 pulsus FL: portus N. 

2 sic licet r: scilicet iV; si licet i^Z. 

3 Scythiae inscriptio Povipciana, C.I.L. 4, 1960. iiiiibiilet 
inscr. Pomp.: ainlnilat NFL. 

4 a<leo inscr. Pomp. : deo NFL : feriat inscr. Pomp. 
6 pi-^ecin\t Gui/ctus : percntit JV^T^Z. 

« et cuius sit 7^a/7>ier; exclusis lit i\'/^i. 
V tali r : talis NFL. 

231. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

put off obedience out of fear, her tears would be 
more terrible than any midnight foe. Once had I 
sinned, and was rejected for a whole year long. 
Against me her hands are merciless. 

^^ Yet there is none would hurt a lover : lovers are 
sacred: lovers might travel Sciron's road unscathed. 
A lover, though he walk on Scythia's shores, will find 
none so savage as to have heart to harm him. Tlae 
moon lights his path ; the stars show forth the rough 
places, and Love himself waves the flaming torch 
before him ; the fierce watchdog turns aside his 
fanffs. For such as him the I'oad is safe at 



'» 



gaping 

any hour. Who is so cruel as to embrue his hands 
in a lover's worthless blood, above all Avhen Venus 
herself bears him company ? 

21 But did I know that if I perished I should surely 
receive due rites of burial, death would be worth the 
purchase at such price. She will bring unguents to 
my pyre and adorn my tomb with wreaths, she will 
sit beside my grave and keep watch there. God 
grant she place not my bones in some crowded spot, 
where the rabble journeys on the busy higliway. 
Thus after death are lovers' tombs dishonoured. 
Let me be shadowed by leafy trees in some field far 
from the roadside ; else let me be buried walled in 
by heaps of nameless sand, I would not that my 
name should be recorded amid the bustle of the 
street. 



235 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

XVII 

NvNC, o Bacche, tiiis luimiles advolvimur aris : 

da mihi pacato vela secunda, pater, 
tu potes insanae Veneris compescere fastus, 

curariimque tuo fit medicina mero. 
per te iunguatur, per te solvuntur amantes : 

tu vitium ex animo dilue, Bacche, meo. 
te quoque enim non esse rudem testatiir in astris 

lyncibus ad caelum vecta Ariadiia tuis. 
hoc milii, quod veteres custodit in ossibus ignes, 

funera sanabunt aut tua vina malum. 1 

semper enim vacuos nox sobria torquet amantes, 

spesque timorque animos ^ versat utroque motio. 
quod si, Bacche, tuis per fervida temjwra donis 

accersitus erit somnus in ossa mea, 
ipse seram vitis pangamque ex ordine collis, 

quos carpant nullae mc vigilante ferae, 
dum mode purpureo cumulem ^ mihi dolia musto, 

et nova pressantis inquinet uva pedes, 
quod superest vitae per te et tua cornua vivam, 

virtutisque tuae, Bacche, poeta ferar. 20 

dicam ego maternos Aetnaeo fulmine partus, 

Indica Nysaeis arma fugata choris, 
vesanumcjue nova nequiquam in vite Lycurgum, 

Pentheos in triplices funera grata greges, 

* animos Beroaldus : animo NFL. ^^ 

2 cumulem PosUjate : numen N : numerem Z ; nuie F. 

236 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



XVII 

Now, O Bacchus, I cast me down before thine altars 
in lowly supplication ; O father, give me peace and 
prosper my sails. Thougli Venus be frenzied, thou 
canst quell her scorn, and woes find healin;^ from 
thy wine. By tb.ee are lovei's yoked, by thee set 
free ; do thou, O Bacchus, wash this weakness from 
my soul. Thou also art not unversed in love ; to 
that Ariadne rapt heavenward in thy lynx-drawn 
car bears witness among the stars. This curse that 
for many a year hath kept a fire ablaze within 
my bones only death or thy wine shall heal. For 
a sober night is always torment to lonely lovers, 
and hope and fear rack their spirits this way and 
that. 

1^ But if, O Bacchus, by thy gifts making my brain 
to burn thou shalt bring sleep to rest my bones, 
then will I sow vines and plant my hills with rows, 
and will watch that no beasts of the wild make 
havoc thereon. If only I may crown my vats with 
purple must and the new grape may dye my feet 
that tread the wine-press, then through all my life 
to come thou and thine horns shall give me life 
and men shall call me the poet of thy virtue, 
O Bacchus. 

2^ I will sing how the thunderbolt of Etna's forge 
blasted thv mother^ and brought thee to the birth, 
how the warriors of Ind were driven in flight by Nysa's 
dancers, how Lycurgus maddened in vain over the 
new-found vine, how Pentheus' death brought joy 



* See Semela, Index. 

237 



f 



SEXTI PROPEUTl ELEGIARVM LUiVAi III 

curvaque Tyrrhenos delpliiiium corpora nautas 

in vada pampinea desiluisse rate, 
ct tibi per mediam bene olentia flumina Diam/ 

unde tuum potant Naxia turba merum. 1 

Candida laxatis pncrato colla corymbis 

cinget Bassaricas Lydia niitra comas, SO J, 

levis odorato cervix manabit olivo, f 

et feries nudos veste flucute pedes, 
mollia Dircaeae pulsabunt tympana Thebae, 

capripedes calamo Panes liiante canent, 
vertice turrigero iuxta dea magna Cybelle 

tundet^ ad Idaeos cymbala rauca chores, 
ante fores tenipli crater antistitis auro 

libabit ^ fundens in tua sacra merum. 
haec ego non lunnili referam memoranda coturno, 

qualis Pindarico spiritus ore tonat : 40 

tu modo servitio vacuum me siste superbo, 

atque hoc solUcitum vince sopore caput. 

XVIII 

Clavsvs ab umbroso qua alkidit^ pontus Averno 

umida Baiarum stagna tepentis aquae, 
qua iacet et Troiae tubicen Misenus harena, 

et sonat Hei'culeo structa labore via ; 
hie, ubij moitalcs dexter cum quaei'cret urbes, 

cymbala Thebano concrepuere deo : — 

1 Uiaiii Palmer ; Naxon AFL. 

2 tundet Scaliger : fundpt NFL. 
■i Whixhii Foster : libat uiii iV/'Z/. 
4 aXixxdit Lambinus : \\id\i NFL. 

238 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 111 

to the three companies of Maenads, how the Tuscan 
sailors, turned to curved dolphin-shapes, leapt into 
the sea from the vine-clad ship, and how fragrant 
streams flowed for thee through Dia's midst and 
the folk of Naxos drank thy wine therefrom. While 
thy white neck bows beneath the trailing ivy-clusters, 
the Lydian turban shall crown thy hair, O Bassareus. 
Thy smooth throat shall stream with scented oil of 
olive, and thy flowing robe shall strike thy naked 
feet. Dircean Thebes shall beat the womanish 
timbrel for thee, and goat-footed Pans shall make 
music on the pipes of reed. Hard by the great 
goddess, Cybelle, her head tower-crowned, shall clash 
the harsh cymbals to the Idaean dance. Before the 
temple gates shall stand the bowl, and the priest 
shall draw wine therefrom with golden ladle and 
pour it on thy sacrifice. 

3^ Of all this will I sing, things meet for no lowly 
accent, but with such voice as thundered from the 
lips of Pindar. Do thou only set me free from this 
haughty tjranny and vanquish mine anguished soul 
with slumber, 

XVIII 

Where the sea, shut out from dark-shadowed Avernus, 
beats with its laughing wave on Baiae's warm and 
steaming pools, where Misenus, trumpeter of Troy, lies 
in his sandy tomb, and the way built by the toil of 
Hercules is loud with the sea-billow ; where the 
cymbals clashed in honour of the Theban god, when 
with kindly intent he visited the cities of men — but 



239 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 
at nunc invisae magno cum crimine Baiae, 

quis deus in vcstra constitit hostis aqua ? — 
hic^ pressus Stygias vultum demisit in undas, 

errat et in vestro spiritus ille lacu. 1 

quid genus aut virtus aut oj)tima profuit illi 

mater, et amjjiexum Caesaris esse focos ? 
aut modo tarn pleno fluitantia vela theatre, 

et per maternas omnia gcsta manus ? 
occidit, et misero steterat vicesimus annus : 

tot bona tarn parvo clausit in orbe dies, 
i nunc, telle animos et tecum finge triumphos, 

stantiaque in plausum tota theatra iuvent, 
Attalicas supera vestes, atque omnia magnis 

gemmea sint ludis : ignibus ista dabis. 20 

sed tamen hue omnes, hue ^ primus et ullimus 
or do : 

est mala, sed cunctis ista terenda via est ; 
exoranda canis tria sunt latrantia colla, 

scandenda est torvi ^ publica cumba senis. 
ille licet ferro cautus se condat et acre, 

mors tamen inclusum protrahit inde caput. 
Nirea non facics, non vis excmit Achillem, 

Croesum aut, Pactoli quas parit umor opes, 
[hie olim ignaros luctus populavit Achivos, 

Atridae magno cum stetit alter amor.*] 30 

^ hie Guyet : his NFL. 
- hue . . . hue/; hoc . . . hue NFL. 

3 fowl/; ton'iFL: -troci iV^. ^ 

^ This couplet is clearly alien to its present context. It is fl 
cuncciiable that it should be transposed to follow II. VI. 16. 

240 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK 111 
now, ah, hateful Baiae, dark with deep guilt, what 
aaleful god stands by your waters ? — here he sank 
smitten down to the Stygian wave/ and that noble 
spirit wanders o'er your mere. 

" What availed him birth or virtue or his mother's 
piety ? What availed him his union with the house 
of Caesai-, or the waving awnings of the theatre so 
thronged but yesterday, or all tliat his mother's hands 
had wrought for him ? He is dead, cut short unhappy 
in his twentieth year. Such glory compassed in such 



narrow room ! 



^^ Go to now, exalt thy soul with pride and dream 
of triumphs, rejoice when whole tlieatres spring to 
their feet to cheer, outdo the cloth-of-gold of Attalus, 
at the great games let all be bright with gems ! All 
these glories thou shalt yield up to the fires of death. 
And yet hither at last come all, come noble and come 
base; bitter is the way, but all must tread it; all 
must assuage the triple throat of the baying hound, 
and climb the boat of that grim greybeard that waits 
for all. Though a nian seek to save himself by 
walls of iron and of brass, yet death shall drag forth 
his head from its sheltering place. Beauty saved 
not Nireus, nor might Achilles ; nor was Ci'oesus 
succoured by wealth born of Pactolus stream. 

[-^ Such grief once wasted the per]:)lexed Achi\ i, 
when Atrides' new passion cost them dcar.l 

1 Marcellus, nephew of Augustus, died at Baiae 23 i^.o. 



241 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

at tibi, nauta, pias hominum qui traicis umbras, 
hoc animae portent corpus inane suae ; * 

qua Siculae victor telluris Claudius et qua 
Caesar, ab humana cessit in astra via. 



XIX 

Obicitvr totiens a te mihi nostra libido : 

crede niihi, vobis imperat ista magis. 
vos^ ubi contempti rupistis frena pudoris, 

nescitis captae mentis habere modum. 
flamma per incensas citius sedetur aristas, 

fluminaque ad fontis sint reditura caput, 
et placidum Syrtes poi'tum et bona htora nautis 

pi'aebeat hospitio saeva Malea suo, 
quam possit vesti'os quisquam reprehendere cursus 

et rapidae stimulos frangere nequitiae. 10 

testis, Cretaei fastus quae passa iuvenci 

induit abiegnae cornua falsa bovis ; 
testis Thessalico flagrans Salmonis Enipeo, 

quae voluit liquido tota subire deo. 
crimen et ilia fuit, patria succensa senecta 

arboris in frondes condita Myrrlia novae, 
nam quid Medeae referam, quo tempore matris 

iram natorum caede piavit amor ? 
quidve Clytaemestrae, propter quam tota Myccnis 

iiifamis stupro stat Pelopca domus .'' 20 

1 lioc Lachmann ; hue NFL. suae Markland : tuae NFL. 
24.2 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

2^ But to thee, O ferryman of pious souls, let them 
bear this body void of its spirit ; his soul hath soared 
starward far from the paths of men by the road that 
Claudius, victor of Sicily, and Caesar trod. 



XIX 

Oft thou reproachest me with the lust that rules us 
men. Believe me, 'tis rather of your womankind that 
lust is lord. Ye, when ye have burst the reins of 
despised modesty, ne'er set a limit to the frenzy of 
your heart. Sooner shall the flame be quenched 
amid the burninsr corn, and streams return to the 
fountain whence they sprang, sooner shall the Syrtes 
yield a calm haven and wild Malea give the mariner 
kindly welcome on its shores, than any man shall 
have power to check you in your course or break the 
goads of your headlong wantonness. 

1^ Witness be she that suffered the scorn of the 
Cretan bull, and put on the false horns of the fir- 
wood cow. Witness Salmoneus' daughter that burned 
with passion for Thessalian Enipeus, and was ready 
to yield all her body to the watery god. Myrrha too 
is a reproach to your sex, that, fired with love for her 
aged sire, was transformed and hidden in the leaves 
of a strange tree. For why should I tell of Medea, 
when the mother, dearly though she loved her chil- 
dren, appeased her anger by their slaughter ? Or why 
should I tell of Clytemestra, that in Mycenae brought 
shame on all the house of Pelops by her adultery ? 



243 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

tuque, o Minoa venumdata Scylla figura, 

tondes^ purpurea regna paterna coma, 
hanc igitur dotem virgo desponderat liosti ' 

Nise, tuas portas fraude reclusit amor, 
at vos, innuptae, felicius urite taedas : 

pendet Cretaea tracta puella rate, 
non tamen immerito Minos sedet arbiter Orci : 

victor erat quamvis, aequus in lioste fuit. 

XX 

Credis eum iam posse tuae meminisse figurae, 

vidisti a lecto quem dare vela tuo ? 
durus, qui lucro potuit mutare puellam ! 

tantine, his ^ lacriuiis, Africa tota fuit .'' 
at tu, stulta, deos, tu fingis inania verba : 

forsitan ille alio pectus amore terat. 
est tibi forma potens, sunt castae Palladis artes, 

splendidaque a docto fama refulget avo, 
fortunata domus, modo sit tibi fidus amicus. 

fidus ero : in nostros curre, puella, toros ! 10 

nox mihi prima venit ! primae date tempora 

noctis : ^ 13 

longius in primo, Luna, morare toro. 14 

tu quoque, qui aestivos spatiosius exigis ignes, 1 1 

Phoebe, moraturae contrahe lucis iter. 12 

^ Tondts Kcil : tondens NFL. 

2 tantine his Paldam : tantisnc in N : tantis in PL. 

3 13, 14 transposed before 11, 12 by Scaliger. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

And thou, Scylla, that didst sell thyself for the beauty 
of Minos, thou didst shear away thy father's realm 
when thou shorest his purple lock. Such was the 
dower that the maiden pledged to the foe ! Nisus, 
'twas love that opened thy gates by guile. But may 
ye, unwedded maids, burn your marriage torches 
with happier omen : for, see, she hangs to the Cretan 
bark and is dragged through the sea. Yet Minos 
deserves his place as the judge of Hell: though victor 
he showed justice to his conquered foe. 



XX 

Deemst thou that he whom thou hast seen set sail 
from thine embraces can give a thought to the re- 
membrance of thy beauty ? Cruel the man that had 
the heart to leave his mistress for the sake of gain ! 
When such tears as thine were shed was all Africa 
worth the winning ? But thou, foolish girl, dreamst 
of the gods by whom he swore, and of the light 
words he spake. Perchance e'en now he vexes his 
heart with another passion. 

' Thy beauty hath power, thine are the chaste ai'ts 
of Pallas, and glorious is the renown shed on thee by 
thy learned grandsire.^ Rich enough is thine iiouse, 
if thy lover be but true ! I will be true : do thou, my 
love, hasten to my couch ! 

^^ The first night of love is come for me. Grant 
me. Moon and Sun, the full space of that first night. 
Moon, linger longer than thy wont o'er our tirst 
embraces. Thou too, Phoebus, that o'ermuch pro- 
longst thy summer fires, shorten the course of thy 

1 It is possible that Cynthia (Hostia) claimed to be descended 
from the poet Hostius (circa 130), who wrote an epic on thf 
Illyrian war of 178 B.C. 

245 



SEXTI PllOPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 
foedcra sunt ponenda prius signandaque iura 

et scribenda mihi lex in aniore novo, 
liaec Amor ipse suo constringit pignora signo : 

testis sidereae torta corona deae. 
quam niultae ante meis cedent sermonibus horae, 

dulcia quam nobis concitet arma Venus ! 20 

namque ubi non certo vincitur foedere lectus, 

non habet ultores nox vigilata ^ deos, 
et quibus imposuit, solvit mox vincla libido ; 

contineant nobis omina ^ prima fidem. 
ergo^ qui pactas in foedera ruperit aras, 

pollueritque novo sacra marita toro, 
illi sint quicumque solent in amore dolores, 

et caput argutae praebeat historiae, 
nee flenti dominae patefiant nocte fenestrae : 

semper amet, fructu semper amoris egens. SO 

XXI 

Magnvm iter ad doctas proficisci cogor Atlienas, 

ut me longa gravi solvat amore via. 
crescit enim assidue spectando^ cura puellae : 

ipse alimenta sibi maxima praebet amor, 
omnia sunt temptata mihi, quacumque fugari 

possit : at ex omni me premit ipse deus. 
vix tamen aut semel admittit, cum saepe negarit ; 

seu venit, extremo dormit amicta * toro. 

1 vigilata A'; vigiianila i''Z. 

2 omiiia S" : omnia NFL. 

3 siiectando FL: gpectandi N. 

4 &'.mct& Seal iger : amicsi NFL. 

21-6 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

laggard light. First must the terms be made, the 
pact be sealed, the contract written, that shall rule 
my new love. Love himself with his own signet 
seals up our troth ; the whirling crown of the starry 
goddess ^ is witness. How many an hour shall first 
yield to my tale of love ere Venus spur us to her 
sweet warfare ! For if Love's bed be not bound by 
compact sure the lover's nights of sleepless watching 
find no gods to avenge them, and lust soon breaks 
the fetters it imposed : but for us may our love's 
first omens keep fast our troth. Wherefore for him 
that breaks the pledge that he swore on heaven's 
altars, and pollutes the rites of wedlock by turning 
to other loves, for him be all the woes love knoM's 
so well, and let shrill-tongued gossip fasten on him, 
nor, though he weep, may the window of his mistress 
be unbarred to him by night ; let him love without 
ceasing, yet ever lack the fruition of love. 



XXI 

I AM constrained to set forth on a mighty journey to 
learned Athens, that long travel may free me from 
the burden of love. For my passion for my mistress 
grows with gazing on her : love itself is love's chief 
nourishment. I have tried all means whereby Love 
may be put to flight : but the god afflicts me from 
every side. Yet scarce ever, or only once and again, 
■<vill she admit me, while oft she says me nay : or 
if she comes to me, she sleeps fully clad on the bed's 

^ Ariadue. 



247 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

unum erit auxilium : mutatis Cynthia terris 

quantum oculiSj animo tam procul ibit amor. 1 
nunc agitc, o socii, propellite in aequora ^ navtm, 

i-emorumque pares ducite sorte vices, 
iungiteque extremo feliciaiintca malo : 

iam liquidum nautis aura secundat iter. 
Homanae turres et vos valeatis, aniici, 

qualisciimque mihi tuque, puella, vale ! 
ergo ego nunc rudis Iladriaci veliar aequoris liospes, 

cogar et undisonos nunc prece adire decs, 
deinde per Ionium vectus cum fessa Lechaeo 

sedarit placida vela pliaselus aqiia, 20 

quod superest, sufferre pedes properate laborcm, 

Isthiuos qua terris arcet utrumque mare, 
inde ubi Piiaei capient me litora portus, 

scandam ego Theseae bracchia longa viae. 
iUic vel stadiis animum emendare Platonis 

incipiam aut hortis, docte Epicure, tuis ; 
persequar aut studium linguae, Demosthenis arma, 

librorumque luos, docte ^ Menandre, sales ; 
aut certe tabulae capient mea lumina pictae, 

sive ebore exactae, seu magis aere, manus. 30 

aut spatia annorum, aut longa intervalla profundity -^i>.<^"y? 

lenibunt tacito vulnera nostra sinu : 
seu moriar, fato, non turpi fractus amore ; 

atque erit ilia mihi mortis honesta dies. 

^ aequora F : aequore NL. 

2 docte NFL ; the repetition of docte is scarcely defensible 
soite Ty. Milller. 

24.8 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

edge. There is no help but this : if I seek another 
land, love will fly as far from my soul as Cynthia 
from mine eyes. 

^^ Come now, my comrades, launch forth our ship to 
sea and draw lots in couples for your turn at the oar. 
Hoist the fair-omened sails to the mast's top ; now 
the breeze forwards the mariner's course across the 
wave. Ye towers of Rome and ye my friends, fare- 
well, and thou, my love, whate'er thou hast been for 
me, farewell ! 

^' Now therefoi*e I shall be borne away, the 
Adriatic's unfamiliar guest, and now perforce approach 
with prayer gods of the roaring wave. Then when my 
bark has ci'ossed the Ionian sea and lulled its sails in 
the calm waters of Lechaeum, for what remains of the 
journey hasten, my feet, to endure the toil where 
Isthmos with its fields beats back either sea. Then 
when the shores of Piraeus haven shall receive me I 
will climb the long arms^ of Theseus' road. There 
I will begin to clear my soul of error in Plato's 
Academe,^ or in thy gardens, learned Epicurus ; or I 
will pursue the study of eloquence, the weapon of 
Demosthenes, and will cull the wit of thy books, 
learned Menander ; or else bright pictures shall 
delight my eyes, or masterpieces Avrought in ivory 
or bronze. 

^^ Either length of years or the wide-sundering 
spaces of the deep shall heal the wounds hidden in 
my silent breast, or, if I die, it shall be fate, not dis- 
honouring love, shall lay me low ; and the day of my 
death shall bring me no disgrace. 

1 The " long walls " of Athens. 

2 stadiis = gymnasium — i.e., the Academia where Plato 
taught. 

249 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

XXII 

Fhigida tarn multos placuit tibi Cjzicus annos,* 

Tulle, Propontinca quae fluit isthmos aqua, 
Dindymus at secto fabiicata in dente ^ Cybelle, 

raptorisque tulit qua via Ditis equos ? 
si te forte iuvant Helles Athamantidos urbes, 

at ^ desiderio. Tulle, movere meOj — 
tu licet aspicias caelum omne Atlanta gerentem, 

sectaque Persea Phorcidos ora nianu, 
Geryonis stabula et luctantum in pulvere signa 

Plerculis Antaeique, Hesperid unique choros ; 10 
tuque tuo Colchum propellas remige Phasim, 

Peliacaeque trabis totum iter ipse legas, 
qua rudis Ai'gea * natat inter saxa coluniba 

in faciem prorae pinus adacta novae ; 
aut si qua Ortygie et ^ visenda est ora Caystri, 

et qua septenas temperat unda vias ; 
omnia Romanae cedent miracula terrae : 

natura hie posuit, quidquid ubique fuit. 
armis apta magis tellus quam commoda noxae : 

Famani, Roma, tuae non pudet historiae. 20 

nam quantum ferro tantum pietate potentes 

stamus : victrices temperat ira manus. 

^ annos/i.- annus NFL. 

2 secto ... in dente Barton: sacra . . . inventa NFL, 
the passage scarcely admits of certain correction. 

3 at Pkillimore : et NFL. i .U-gea. F : Avg> 'a NL. 

6 aut Fontcine: et N : at FL. Ortygie et Haupt: orige 
NFL. 

250 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



XXII 

Has cool Cyzicus^ where the isthmus streams with 
wave of Propontis, and the goddess of Dindymus and 
Cy belle fashioned from carven tusks ^ and the pith 
trodden by the steeds of Dis ^ the ravisher, have all 
these pleased thee for so many years^ my Tullus ? 
Though perchance the cities of Helle, daughter of 
Athamas, delight thee, yet, Tullus, be moved by my 
longing for thee. 

' Though one gaze on Atlas supporting all the 
sky, and the head of Phorcys' daughter severed by 
Perseus' hand, the stalls of Geryon, the marks of 
Hercules and Antaeus wrestling in the dust, and 
the dances of the Hesperides ; though another churn 
the waters of Colchian Phasis with his oarsmen and 
follow the whole course of the timbers hewn on 
Pelion, where the pine-tree, wrought into the 
shape of an unfamiliar ship and still strange to the 
sea, glided between the crags Avith Argos' dove for 
guide ; though he must visit Ortygia and the shores 
of Cayster and the land where Nile's waters run 
in sevenfold channels ; yet all these marvels shall 
yield to the land of Rome : here hath nature placed 
whate'er is best in all the world. 'Tis a land made 
for war rather than crime : Fame blushes not for thy 
story, O Rome. For we are stablished in power by 
loyal faith no less than by the sword : our anger 
restrains its conquering hands. 

1 At Cyzicus there was, according to Pausanias, a statue of 
Cvbelle made of hippopotamus ivory. 

2 There seems to have been a legend which made Cyzicus, 
not Sicily, the place of Persephone's disappearance. 

251 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 
hie Anio Tiburne fliiis/ Clitumniis ab Vmbro 

tramite, et aeteriium Marcius umor opus, 
Albanus lacus et foliis Nemorensis abundans,' 

potaque Pollucis nympha salubris equo. 
at non squamoso labuntur ventre cerastae, 

Itala portentis nee furit ^ unda novis ; 
non hie Andromedae resonant pro matre catenae, 

nee tremis Ausonias, Phoebe fugate, dapes, 30 

nee euiquam absentes arserunt in eaput ignes 

exitium nato matre movente suo ; 
Penthea non saevae venantur in arbore Bacchae, 

nee solvit Danaas subdita cerva rates, 
comua nee valuit eurvare in paeliee luno 

aut faciem turpi dedecorare bove ; 

arboreasque cruees Sinis, et non hospita Grais 

saxa^ et curvatas in sua fata trabes. 
haec tibi^ Tulle, parens, haec est puleherrima sedes, 

hie tibi pro digna gente petendus honos, 40 

hie tibi ad eloquium eives, hie ampla nepotum 

spes et venturae coniugis aptus amor. 

1 fluis r : flues NFL. 

2 ioVus Jloiisman : sotii i^'Z; sociiiV. abundans ^ouSTwan .- 
lb unda NFL. 

3 furit r : luit NFL. 

i At I'lst a couplet seems to have been lost. 



252 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 

23 Here flowest Ihoii, Tibur's Anio, here is Clitum- 
nus from his Umbrian path and the Marcian con- 
duit that shall endure for ever. Here is Alba's lake 
and Nemi thick with leaves, and the healing spring 
whence drank the horse of Pollux. But here glide 
no horned asps with scaly bellies, nor are Italian 
waters wild with strange monsters. Here clang not 
Andromeda's fetters in payment for her mother's 
sill, nor, Phoebus, Hiest thou in terror from Ausonian 
banquets ;* here for no man's destruction hath burned 
far-distant fire when a mother compassed her own 
son's ruin. 2 No fierce Bacchanals hunt Pentheus in 
his tree, nor are Danaan fleets launched by the 
substitution of a doe.-^ Juno hath had no power to 
make curved horns to grow from her rival's ^ brow 
nor disfigure her features beneath the form of a cow. 
[Here none tell of . . . 7ior of] the trees where Sinis 
crucified strangers, nor of the rocks ^ that gave bitter 
welcome to the Greeks, nor of the ships built only to 
meet their doom. 

39 This, lullus, is the land that bore thee, this thy 
fairest home ; here sbouldst thou seek honour that 
shall match thy lofty birth. Here are citizens for 
tiiine eloquence to sway, here is ample hope of 
offspring, and here awaits thee meet love from thy 
bride that shall be. 

1 The reference is to the banquet of Tiiyestes. Atreus pre- 
pared the flesh of Thyestes' children for their father to eat. 
The sun turned back his chariot in horror at the deed. 

2 Althaea brought about her son Meleager's death by burning 
a log, on the preservation of which his life depended. 

3 The sacrifice of Iphigenia. 

4 lo. 

6 See Caphareus, Index. 



25S 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

XXIII 

Ergo tarn doctae nobis periere tabellae, 

scripta quibus pariter tot periere bona ! 
has quondam nostris manibus detriverat usus, 

qui non signatas iussit habere fidem. 
illae iam sine me norant placare puelias, 

et quaedam sine me verba diserta loqui. 
non illas fixum caras effecerat aurum : ''" '^' 

vulgari buxo sordida cera fuit. 
qualesoumque mihi semper mansere fideles, 

semper et effectus promeruere, bonos. 10 

forsitan haec illis fuerint mandata tabellis : 

" Irascor quoniam es^ lente, moratus heri. 
an tibi nescio quae visa est formosior ? an tu 

non bona de nobis crimina ficta iacis ? " 
aut dixit ; " Venies hodie, eessabinius una : 

hospitium tota nocte paravit Amor/' 
et quaecumque volens ^ reperit non stulta ])uclla 

garrula, cum blandis dicitur ^ hora dolis. 
me miserum, his aliquis rationem scribit avarus ^ 

et ponit diras * inter ephcmeridas ! 20 

quas si quis mihi rettulerit, donabitur auro : 

quis pro divitiis ligna ^ retenta velit ? 
i pucr, et citus haec aliqua propone cokunna, 

et dominum Esquiliis scribe habitare tuum. 

^ volens Broekhuyzen : dolens NPL. 

2 dicitur n ducitur iVi^Z. 3 avai-ii.' S" : aym NFL. 

* diras iV.- duras PZ. 6 Wgvxa Beroaidui : slgna NFL. 

2.54 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



XXIII 

So then my tablets^ my learned tablets are lost, and 
with them many a gracious writing too is lost. Long 
usage at my hands had worn them down and bade 
them be believed without the warrant of a seal. 
They knew how to appease my loves, though I was 
not by, and, though I was not by, could speak in 
words of eloquence. No golden fittings made them 
precious; they were only dingy wax on common 
boxwood. Yet poor though they were, they were 
ever faithful to me and ever won deserved success. 
Somelimes, it may be, these were the words entrusted 
to their care : " I am angry, because thou didst tarry 
yestereve, thou sluggard. Did:-t thou deem thou 
hadst found a fairer love ? Or dost thou spread some 
vile slander against me ? " Or perchance she said : 
" Thou wilt come to-day and w'e Avill take our ease 
together : Love has made ready a welcome for thee 
all night long." These bare they, and all the shrewd 
words a chattering girl delights to find, when she 
appoints an hour for the stealthy joys of love. Alas ! 
and now some greedy merchant writes his bill upon 
them and places them among his terrible ledgers ! 
If any will return them to nae he shall have gold for 
his reward : who would keep hard blocks of wood 
when he might have wealth for them ? Go, boy, 
and with all speed set forth these lines upon some 
pillar, and write that thy master dwells upon the 
Esquiline. 



255 



SEXTi PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER 111 



XXIV 

Falsa est ista tuae, mulicr, fiducia fonnae, 

olim oculis niniium facta supcrba mcis. 
noster amor tales tribuit tibi, Cynthia, laiides. 

versibus insignein te pudet esse meis. 
mixtam te varia laudavi saepe figura, 

ut, quod non esses, esse putaret amor ; 
et color est totiens roseo collatus Eoo, 

cum tibi quaesitus candor in ore foret : 
quod mihi non patrii poterant avei^tere aniici, 

eluere aut vasto Tliessala saga mari. 10 

haec ego non ferro, non igne coactus, et ipja 

naufragus Aegaea vera fatebar ^ aqua : 
correptus saevo Veneris torrebar aeno ; 

vinctus eram versas in mea terga manus. 
ecce coronatae portum tetigere carinae, 

traiectae Syrtes, ancora iacta mihi est. 
nunc demum vasto fcssi resipiscimus aestu, 

vulneraque ad sanum nunc coiere mea. 
Mens Bona, si qua dea es, tua me in sacraria done ! 

exciderant surdo tot mea vota lovi. 20 

1 yeva. I'asserat : verba iV/'X. fatebar S': fatebor iV/X 



256 



THE ELFXilES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



XXIV 

False, woman, is the trust thou puttest in thy 
beauty ; long since the partial judgment of mine 
eyes hath made thee over})roud. Such praise of old 
my love bestowed on thee, and noAV it shames me 
that thou hast glory from my song. Oft did I 
praise the varied beauty of thy blending charms, 
and love deemed thee to be that which thou wert 
not. Olt was thy hue compared to the rosy star of 
dawn, though the splendour of thy face owed naught 
to nature. This madness my ftither's friends could 
not drive from me, nor any witch of Thessaly wash 
from me with the waves of the wild sea. All this — 
no fire or knife compelling — I confessed in utter 
truth, wrecked on a very ocean of trouble. '^ Venus 
caught me and seethed me in the caldron of her 
cruelty ; my hands Avere twisted and bound beliind 
my back. But lo ! my ships have found haven and 
wear wreaths of thanksgiving, the Syrtes are crossed 
and mine anchor cast. Now at last my senses return 
to me, aweary of the wild sea-tides ; my wounds have 
closed, my flesh is healed. Good Sense, if any such 
goddess there be, I dedicate myself to the service of 
thy shrine, for Jove Avas deaf and took no heed of all 
my vows. 

* Acyaea aqyM is metapliorical. 



«57 



SEXTI PKOPERTl ELEGIARVM LIBER III 

XXV 

Risvs eram positis inter convivia mcnsis, 

et de me poterat quilibet esse loqiiax. 
quinque tibi potui servirc fideliter annus : 

unguc meara niorso saepe querere fidcni. 
nil moveor lacrimis : ista sum captus ab arte ; 

semper ab insidiis, Cynthia^ flere soles, 
flebo ego discedens, sed fletum iniiiria vincit : 

tu bene conveniens non sinis ire iugum. 
limina iam nostris valeant lacrimantia verbis, 

iiec tamen iraUi ianua fracta manu. 10 

at te celatis aetas gravis urgeat annis, 

et veniat formae ruga sinistra tuae ! 
vellere turn capias albos a stirpe capillos, 

a ! speculo rugas increpitante tibi, 
exclusa inque vicem fastus patiare superbos, 

et quae fecisti facta querai'is anus ! 
has tibi fatales cecinit mea pagina diras : 

eventum formae disce timere tuae ! 



8.5g 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK III 



XXV 

They made mock of me where the tables were set 
for feasting ; the tongues of the vilest were suffered to 
make free with my name. For five years I had the 
heart to be thy faithful slave ; oft shalt thou gnaw 
thy nails and mourn for my lost loyalty. Tears move 
me not a whit : 'twas tears ensnared me of old : Cynthia, 
thou never weepest save to deceive. I too shall weep 
as I depart, but my wrongs are stronger than grief ; 
for thou lettest not the yoke sit easy on my shoulders. 
Farewell the threshold still weeping with my plaint, 
farewell that door ne'er broken by my hands for all 
its cruelty ! But thee may weary age bow down with 
the years thou hast concealed,'^ and may ill-favoured 
wrinkles come to mar thy beauty ! Then mayest 
thou desire to tear out thy white hairs by the root, 
when the mirror mocks thee with thy wrinkles ; 
mayest thou in thy turri l)e shut out from bliss 
and endure another's haughty scorn ! Turned to 
an ancient crone, mayest thou lament what thou 
hast done I Such curses fraught with doom are the 
burden of my song for thee : learn to dread the end 
that awaits thy beauty ! 

^ Or perhaps " years that steal on unnoticed." 



f?59 



BOOK IV 



T.IRKR QVAKTVS 
I 

Hoc quodcumque vides, hospes, (jua maxima Roma 
est, 

ante Phry^em Aenean collis et lierba fiiit ; 
atque ubi Navali stant sacra l*alatia Phoebo, 

Euandri profug-ae concubuere boves. 
fictilibus crevere deis haec aurea templa, 

nee fuit opprobrio facta sine arte casa ; 
Tarpeiusque pater nuda de rupe tonabat, 

et Tiberis nostris advena bubus erat. 
qua gradibus domus ista Remi se sustulit, olim 

Linus erat fratrum maxima regna focus. 10 

Curia, praetexto quae nunc nitet alta senatu, 

pellitos habuit, rustica corda, Patres. 
bucina cogebat priscos ad verba Quirites : 

centum illi in prato saepe senatus erat. 
nee sinuosa cavo pendebant vela theatro, 

pul])ita soUemnes non oluere crocos. 
nulH cura fuit externos quaerere divos ; 

cum trenieret patrio pendula turba sacro, 
262 



THE FOURTH BOOK 



All that thou beholdest, stranger, where mighty 
Rome lies spread, was grass and hill before the 
coming of Phrygian Aeneas ; and whei*e stands the 
Palatine sacred to Phoebus of the Sliips, there once lay 
the herd of Evander's exiled kine. From gods of clay 
sprang yonder golden temples ; of old they spurned 
not to dwell in huts made by unskilled hands ; the 
Tai-peian sire thundered from a bare crag, and Tiber 
still seemed strange to our cattle. Wliere Remus' 
house is perched yonder at the stairway's height ^ 
the brothers of old counted their tiny hearth a 
mighty realm. The Senate-house, that towers oi\ 
high filled with a shining throng of senators clad in 
the robe with purple hem, once held a rustic com- 
pany, the city fathers robed in skins of beasts. The 
trumpet summoned the olden Quirites to debate : a 
hundred gathered in a meadow oft made a senate. 
No rippling awnings hung o'er the hollow theatre, 
nor reeked the stage with saffron, as 'tis wont to-day. 
Then no man sought to bring in strange gods, when 
the folk trembled in suspense before the ritual of 
their sires ; but greatly they cared to celebrate 

^ See p. 109, note 1. The stairway is the Scala Cacia 
ieading from the Circus Maximus to the Palatine. 

263 



SEXTI PIIOPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
annua at * accenso celebrare Parilia faeno, 

qiialia nunc curto lustra novantur equo. 20 

Vesta coronatis pauper gaudebat asellis, 

ducebant macrae vilia sacra boves. 
parva saginati luslrabant compita porci, 

pastor et ad calamos exta litabat ovis. 
verbera pellitus saetosa movebat arator, 

unde licens Fabius sacra Lupercus habet. 
nee rudis infestis miles radiabat in armis : 

miscebant usta proelia nuda sude. 
prima galeritus posuit praetoria Lycmon, 

magnaque pars Tatio rerum erat inter oves. 30 

hinc Titiens Ramnesque viri Luceresque Soloni,^ 

quattuor hinc albos Romulus egit equos. 
quijipe suburbanae parva minus urbe Hovillae 

at, qui nunc nuUi, maxima turba Gabi. 
et stetit Alba potens, albae suis omine nata, 

hi'jc ubi Fidenas longa erat isse via.^ 

^ annua at Lnrlunann . annuaque XFL. 
^ soloiu N : coloni FL. 

^ liino Postyate: liac NFL. longa ... via f- : longe . . . 
vias NFL. 



^264 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

the yearly feast of Pales with heaps of burning 
straw^ making purification such as to-day we make 
with the blood of the maimed horse. ^ Vesta was 
poor, and necklaced asses ^ sufficed to make her glad, 
while lean kine dragged sacred emblems of little 
worth. The ci'oss-roads/^ small as yet, were sprinkled 
with the blood of fatted swine, and the shepherd to 
the sound of pipes of reed made acceptable sacrifice 
with the entrails of sheep. The ploughman girt 
with skins plied his shaggy scourge ; * hence spring 
the I'ites of Fabian Lujiercus. Their rude soldiers 
flashed not in threatening armour, but joined battle 
bare-breasted with stakes hai-dened in the fire. 
Lycmon wore but a wolf-skin helm when he pitched 
the first of general's tents, and the wealth of Tatius 
lay chiefly in his sheep. Thus rose the Titienses, 
the hero Ramnes, and the Luceres of Solonium ; thus 
came it that Romulus drove the four white steeds of 
triumph. Of a truth Bovillae was less a suburb 
while Rome was yet so small, and Gabii, that now is 
naught, was then a crowded town. Then Alba, born 
of the white sow's omen, still stood in power, in the 
days when 'twas a long journey from Rome to Fidenae. 

^ Oil October 15 a horse known as the October equus was 
sacrificed to Mars. Its t:nl was cut off and the blood allowed 
to drop on the hearth of the regia, the ancient palace of Numa, 
near the temple of Vesta. The blood was preserved and formed 
part of a suffiraen, or funiigatory powder, at the Parilia. 

2 The feast of Vesta took place on June 9, one of its chief 
features being a procession in which asses garlanded with 
strings of loaves took part. 

3 A reference to the Compitalia, or festival of the Lares 
compitales, which took place at the end of December. 

4 The reference is to the Lnpercalia (February 15). Men 
girt with skins ran through the streets of Kuiue striking 
women with thongs of goat-skin. This was supposed to 
promote fertility. 

265 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
nil patrium nisi nomen habet Romanus alumnus : 

sanguinis altiiceni non putet esse lupam. 
hue melius profugos misisti, Troia, Penates. 

hue ^ quali vecta est Dardana puppis ave ! 40 

lam bene spondebant tunc omina, quod nihil illam 

laeserat abiegni venter apertus equi, 
cum pater in nati trepidus cervice pependit, 

et verita est umcros urere flamma pios. 
tunc animi venere Deci Brutique secures, 

vexit et ipsa sui Caesaris arma Venus, 
arma resurgentis portans victricia Troiae : 

felix terra tuos cepit, lule, deos, 
si modo Avernalis tremulae cortina Sibvllae 

dixit Aventino rura pianda Remo, 50 

aut si Pergameae sero rata carmina \ atis 

longaevum ad Priami vera fuere caput: 
" Vertite equum, Danai ! male vincitis I Ilia tellus 

vivet, et huic cineri luppitcr arma dabit ! " 
optima nutricum nostris lupa Martia rebus, 

qualia creverunt moenia lacte tno ! 
moenia namque pio coner disponere versu : 

ei mihi, quod nostro est parvus in ore sonus ) 
sed tamen exiguo quodcumque e pectore rivi 

fluxerit, hoc patriae serviet omne meae. CO 

Ennius hirsuta cingat sua dicta corona : 

mi folia ex hedera porrige, Bacche, tiia, 
ut nostris tumefacta supcrbiat Vmbria libris, 

V'mbria Romani patria Callimachi ! 

^ hue Baehrena : lieu yPI., 

266 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

The Roman of to-day has naught from his father 
save the name, nor would he deem that the she-wolf 
nurtured the blood from Avhence he sprang. 

3^ Hither, O Troy, for happier destiny didst thou 
send thine exiled gods ; with blessed augury came 
hither the Dai-dan bark ; even then the omens boded 
her well, since the womb of the horse of fir-wood had 
done her no hurt in that day when the father hung 
trembling on his son's neck, and the flame feared to 
burn those pious shoulders. That day led hither 
the dauntless Decii and the consulship of Brutus, 
and Venus herself bore hither her Caesar's arms, 
even the victorious arms of Troy reborn ; with 
blessing, lulus, did the land i*eceive thy gods, since 
the tripod of Avernus' trembling Sibyl bade Remus 
sanctify the fit-Ids of Aventine, and late in time the 
strains of the })rophetess of Troy proved true con- 
cerning ancient Priam. " Turn your steeds, ye 
Danaans ! " she cried. " Ye conquer but in vain ! 
Ilium's land shall live and Jove shall arm her 
ashes ! " 

55 O wolf of Mars, thou best of nurses for our state, 
what walls have sprung from thy milk ! Of those 
walls let me sing in order due — alas ! how weak 
is the voice of my lips. Yet howsoever slender the 
stream of song that flows from my puny heart, yet all 
of it shall be given to the service of my counti-y. 
Let Ennius crown his songs with rude, shaggy 
wreath ! To me, O Bacchus, give of thine ivy's 
leaves, that my books may make Umbria swell with 
pride, Umbria the home of Rome's Callimachus ! 



267 



SRXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBKR IV 

scandentis qui Asis^ cernit de vallibiis arces, 

ingenio mums aestimet ille mco ! 
Roma, fave, tibi surgit opus, date Candida cives 

omina, et inceptis dextera cantet avis ! 68 

dicam : " Troia cades, et Troica Roma resurgcs"; 87 

et maris et terrae longa pericla^ canam.^ 88 

sacra diesque canam et cognomina prisca locorum : 69 

has meus ad metas sudet oportct equus. 70 



Qvo ruis imprudens, vage, dicere fata, Properti? 

non sunt a dcxtro condita fila colo. 
accersis lacrinias cantans ; '' avcrsus Apollo ; 

poscis ab invita verba pigenda lyra. 
certa feram certis auctoribus, aut ego vates 

nescius aerata signa movere pila. 
me creat Archytae suboles Rahylonius Orops 

Horon, et a proavo ducta Conone domus. 
di mihi sunt testes non degenerasse ])rai)inquos, 

inque meis libris nil prius esse fide. 80 

nunc prctium fcccre deos et (fallilur auro 

Iupi)iter) obliquae signa iterata rotae, 

^ qui A.^is Butler, following O. L. Richmond, who read -que 
Asis cernit qui vallibus (asis fivf) : quasuis PL : quisquis A^. 
2 pericla S" : sepulcra NFL. 
S ,S7, <V.'> transposed after 6S by Scaliger. 

4 No break in MSS. The sept ration is due to early Renaissance 
scholars. 

5 c&ntsina Baeh rem : i^aLat&6 NFL. 

268 



THE ELEGIES OF PROrERTIUS BOOK IV 

Let hiin that sees the towers of A sis climbing from 
the vale reckon the glory of its walls by the fame of 
my wit ! Rome, smile on me ! For thee my work 
is built. Ye citizens, give me fair omen, and from 
the right hand let some bird of augury sing me suc- 
cess. I will cry, " Troy, thou shalt fall, and thou, 
Trojan Rome, shalt arise anew ! " and I will sing of 
all Rome's long perils by land and sea. Of holy 
rites and their days will I sing, and of the ancient 
names of places. This must be the goal toward which 
my foaming steed shall press. 



Whither in heedless folly dost thou speed to sing 
the works of destiny, thou truant Propertius ? The 
thread thou spinnest comes from no favouring distaff. 
Thy song shall bring thee sorrow ; Apollo's face is 
turned from thee ; thuu askest of thine unwilling 
lyre such strains as thou shalt rue. I will tell thee 
sure truth Avith warrant sure ; else am I a seer that 
knows not how to wheel the constellations on their 
orb of bronze.^ Horos is my name, and Babylonian 
Orops, child of Archytas, begat me, and my house 
hath Conon for ancestor. The gods be witness that 
I have not shamed my kin and that in my books 
there is naught set down save truth. Now have 
men turned the gods to profit and Jupiter is fooled 
by their gold ; to profit have they turned the oft- 

1 This elegy seemi to be a sort of whimsical recantation of 
the previous poem. It takes the form of a soliloquy by an 
astrologer, named Horos. 

' An orrery or f lauetarium. 



269 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEOIARVM I,IBER IV 

felices<|ue lovis stellas Martisquc rapaces ^ 

et grave Saturni sidus in omne caput ; 
quid moveant Pisces animosaque signa Leonis, 

lotus et Hesperia quid Capricornus aqua. 86 

dixi ego, cum geminos produceret Arria natos 89 

(ilia dabat natis arma vetante deo) : 90 

non posse ad patrios sua pila referre Penates : 

uenipe meam firmant nunc duo busta fidcni. 
quippc Lupercus, eques - dum saucia protegit ora, 

heu sibi prolajxso non bene cavit equo ; 
Gallus at, in castris dum credita signa tuetur, 

concidit ante aquilae rostra cruenta suae : 
fatales pueri, duo funera matris avarae ! 

vera, sed invito, contigit ista fides. 
idem ego, cum Cinarae traheret Lucina dolores, 

et facerent uteri pondera lenta moram, 100 

" lunonis facito^ votum impetrabile " dixi : 

ilia parlt : libris est data palma meis I 
hoc neque hareno'>um Libyae lovis explicat antrum, 

aut sibi commissos fibra locuta deos, 
aut si quis motas cornicis senserit alas, 

umbrave quae * magicis mortua prodit aquis. 
aspicienda via est caeli verusque per astra 

trames, et ab zonis quinque petenda fides. 

^ rapaces Livineius : rapacLs NPL. 

2 eques Heinsius : equi NPL. 

3 facito I.achmann : facite NFL. 

* umbrave quao 'rurnehu* : umbrane quae N: umbraque 
ne FL. 

110 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

scanned constellations of the slanting zodiac^ the 
blessed star of JovCj the greedy star of Mars, the 
sign of Saturn that brings woe to one and all, the 
purport of the Fish and the fierce constellation of 
the Lion and Capricorn, bathed in the waters of the 
West. 

89 When Arria was in travail with her twin sons I 
foretold — for she destined her sons for arms, though 
a god forbade — that they should never bring home 
their spears to the gods of their father's home^ and 
now lo ! two tombs prove that my words were true. 
For the horseman Lupercus, as he shielded his 
wounded face, guarded himself but ill, alas ! for 
his steed had fallen : while Gallus, as in the camp 
he defended the standards entrusted to his charge, 
fell dead before his eagle's beak and bathed it in his 
blood. Doomed boys, both brought to your death 
by your mother's greed, my words found true fulfil- 
ment — ah ! would that they had not ! I, too, when 
Lucina prolonged Cinara's pains, and the slow burden 
of her womb delayed, cried : " Let her make a vow to 
Juno that shall win the ear of the goddess I " She 
was delivered : my books won the day. Such 
truth is not unfolded by the cave of Libyan Jove 
amid the desert sands,^ nor by entrails that speak 
forth the will of heaven entrusted to their care ; 
such truth he cannot tell that marks the crow's 
beating wings, nor the spirit of the dead that rises 
from magic waters. The seer must gaze upon 
the path of heaven, on the road of truth that 
lies among the stars, and from the five zones seek 

* Jupiter Ammon. 



271 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
exempluni j^rave crit Calclias : namque Aulide solvit 

ille bene liaereiites ad pia saxa rates ; 110 

idem Agamemnoiiiae ffiriim cervice pucllae 

tinxit, et Atridcs vela cruenta dedit ; 
nee rediere tamen Danai : tu, diruta^ fletum 

sujijirime et Euboicos respicc, Troia, sinus ! 
Nauplius ultoi-es sub noctem porrigit ignes, 

et natat exuviis (Jraecia pressa suis. 
victor Oiliade, rape nunc et dilige vatem, 

quam vetat avelli veste Minerva sua ! 
hactenus historiae : nunc ad tua devehar astra; 

incipe tu lacrimis aequus adesse novis. 120 

Vmbria te notis antiqua Penatibus edit : 

mentior ? an patriae tangitur ora tuac ? 
qua^ nebulosa cavo rorat Mevania canipo, 

et lacus aestivis intepet \'^mber aquis, 
scandentisque Asis consurgit verticc nun-us, 

murus ab ingenio notior ille tuo ? 
ossaque legisti non ilia aetate legenda 

patris et in tenues cogeris ipse lares : 
nam tua cum multi versarent rura iuvenci, 

abstulit excultas pertica tristis opes. 130 

niox ubi bulla rudi demissa est aurea collo, 

matris et ante deos libera sumpta toga, 

^ qua r : quam NFL. 



27? 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS ROOK IV 

assurance.^ Calchas bears . grievous witness ; for 
he loosed from Aulis the ships that clung to the 
kindly rocks, as still they should have clung ; 'twas 
Calchas, too, that embrued the steel in the blood of 
Agamemnon's daughter and launched Atrides with 
blood upon his sails ; yet never did the Danaans 
return ; fallen Troy, check thy weeping and behold 
Euboea's bays ! Nauplius uplifts his vengeful fires 
by night, and Greece swims sunken by the weight of 
her own spoils. Victorious son of Oileus, go, ravish 
thy prophetess and take her to thy love, though 
Minerva forbid thee to tear her from her robe ! 

^'^ Thus far shall history witness; now to thy 
stars I turn ; pre})are to lend patient hearing to a 
new tale of tears. Ancient Umbria bore thee in a 
home of high renown — do I lie .'' or do I touch thy 
country's borders ? — where misty Mevania sheds its 
dews on the holloAV plain and the waters of Umbria's 
lake send forth their summer steam, and the wall 
rises from the peak of climbing Asis, that wall made 
yet more glorious by thy wit. And all too young 
thou didst gather to thy bosom thy father's bones 
and wert driven to a poorer home. Many were the 
steers that tilled thy fields, but the pitiless measur- 
ing-rod - robbed thee of thy wealth of plough-land. 
Thereafter when the ball of gold ^ was cast from thy 
young neck and the robe of manhood's freedom * was 

1 Heaven Avas divided into five zones : on eitlier side of the 
central or torrid lay the two temperate zone.=, and beyond them 
two zones of cold. See Vergil, Georg. I. 233. 

2 A reference to the confiscation of lands for distribution 
among the soldiers of Caesar. See Introduction. 

3 A loeket worn by the sons of senators or knights. It 
contained a charm against the evil eye, and was laid aside ofl 
reaching puberty. 

4 See p. 229, note. 

s 273 



SRXTI PROPEHTI ELEGIAR\ M IJBER IV 
turn tibi pauca suo de carmine dictat Apollo 

et vetat insano verba tonare Foro. 
at tu finge elegos, fallax opus : — haec tua castra ! — 

scribat ut exemplo cetera turba tuo. 
militiain Veneris blandis patiere sub anuis, 

et Veneris pueris utilis host is eris. 
nam tibi victrices quascumque labore parasti, 

eludit palmas una puella tuas : 140 

et bene confixum mento discusseris ^ uncum, 

nil erit hoc : rostro te premet ansa suo.^ 
illius arbitrio nocteni lucemque videbis : 

gutta quoque ex oculis non nisi iussa cadet, 
nee mille excubiae nee te signata iuvabunt 

limina : persuasae fallere rima ^ sat est. 
nunc tua vel mediis puppis luctetur in iindis, 

vel licet armalis hostis inermis eas, 
vcl tremefacta cavuni tellus diducat * hiatuni : 

octipedis Cancri terga sinistra time ! 150 



II 

QviD mirare meas tot in uno corpore formas ? 

accipe Vertumni signa paterna dei. 
Tuscus ego Tuscis orior, nee pacnitet inter 

proelia Volsinios deseruisse focos. 

^ discusseris T : discusserit NFL. 

2 rostro Dom. Calderinus : nostro NFL. ansa Dotn. Calde- 
rinu9 : ausa NFL. suo FL : tuo N. 

3 limina S" : lumina NFLy. rima Beroaldus: prima NFL. 
* cavum/.- c&\o NFL. diducat TV.- dednc&t FL. 

«74. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

donned before thy mother's gods^ then did Apollo 
teach thee some little of his song and forbid thee to 
thunder forth thy speech in the mad tumult of the 
Forum. Nay then^ be elegy thy task^ a work full of 
guile — here lies thy warfare ! — that other bards may 
write inspired by thee. Thou shalt endure the 
alluring strife of Venus' wars and shalt be a foeraan 
meet for the shafts of Venus' boys. For whatever 
victories thy toil may win thee, there is one girl shall 
baffle thee ever ; and though thou shake from thy 
mouth the hook that is fast therein, it will avail thee 
naught ; the rod shall keep thee cajjtive with its 
barb. Her whim shall order thy waking and thy 
sleeping, and the tear shall not fall from thine eyes 
save at her command. Nor shall a thousand guards 
aid thee, nor a thousand seals set on her doors ; if she 
be resolved to cheat thee, a chink in the door will 
suffice her. And now whether thy bark be tossed 
in mid tempest or thou goest unarmed amid an 
armoured foe, or earth tremble and yawn for thee 
with gaping chasm, fear thou the ill-omened back of 
the eight-footed Crab ! ^ 



II 

Why marvellest thou that my one body should have 
so many shapes ? Learn the tokens of the god 
Vertumnus' birth. A Tuscan I from Tuscans sprung, 
nor do I re})ent me that I left Volsinii's hearths 

^ Those bora under the constellation of the Crab were 
supposed to be avaricious. The allusion is to Cynthia's 
avarice ; cp. II, XVI., and III. XUI. 



275 



SEXTI PROPEKTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

liaec mea tiirba iuvat, nee teniplo laetor eburno : 

Romanum satis est posse videre Forum, 
hac quondam Tiberinus iter faciebat, at aiunt 

remorum auditos per vada pulsa souos : 
at postquam ille suis bmtum concessit alumnis, 

Vertumnus verso dicor ab amne deus. 10 

seu, quia vertentis fructum praecepimus anni, 

Vertunmi rursus credis id^ esse sacrum, 
prima mihi variat liventibus uva raceniis, 

et coma lactcnti spicea fruj^c tumct ; 
hie dulces cerasos, hie autumnalia pruna 

cernis et aestivo mora rubere die ; 
insitor hie solvit pomosa vota corona, 

cum pirus invito stipite mala tulit. 
mendax fama vaces -.^ alius mihi nominis index : 

de se narranti tu modo crede deo. 20 

opportuna mea est cunctis natura figuris : 

ii\ quameumque voles verte, decorus ero. 
indue me Cois, fiam non dura puella : 

meque virum sumpta quis neget esse toga ? 
da falcem et torto frontem mihi comprime 

faeno : 
* iurabis nostra gramina secta manu. 
arma tuli quondam et, memini, laudabar in illis : 

corbis at ^ imposito pondere messor eram. 
sobrius ad lites : at cum est imposta corona, 

clamabis capiti vina subisse meo. SO 



1 credis id I'ostgate : credidit 0. 
9 vates r : voces FL : nocis N. 
3 at Butler: in N : om. FL. 



276 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

amid the din of battle. This throng that is ever 
round me is my joy ; I need no ivory temple for 
my delight; enough that I can 8ee the Roman 
Forum. 

' There once the Tiber went, and they say that the 
sound of oars ^ was heard across the smitten shallows. 
But after he had yielded thus much ground to his 
nurslings I was called the god Vertumnus from the 
turning of the river. Or else because I receive the 
first-fruits of the year as it turns its round, for this 
reason also thou deemest that offering to be Ver- 
tumnus' due. For me the first grape changes colour 
with darkening cluster, and the spiked ear of corn 
swells with its milky fruit. Here thou seest sweet 
cherries glow, here autumn plums and summer mul- 
berries. Here the grafter pays his vows with garland 
of fruit, when the pear's unwilling stock hath borne 
him apples. 

^* Lying rumour be silent ; another warrant is there 
for my name ; believe the god that tells his own 
tale. My nature suits with every form : turn me to 
what thou wilt, I shall still be comely. Clothe me in 
silks of Cos, I shall prove a graceful girl ; and when 
I wear the toga who shall deny me to be a man } Give 
me a sickle and bind my brow with twisted hay, thou 
wilt swear that grass has been cut by my liands. 
Once I bore arms and, I mind me, won praise in war ; 
but when the heavy basket was placed upon my back 
I was a reaper. Sober am I when law-suits call, yet 
when the wreath is on my brow thou wilt cry that 
the wine has stolen to my head. Gird my head with 

1 See Velabrum, Indei. 



877 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

cinge caput niitra, spccieni furabor lacclii;^ 

furabor Phoibij si niodo plectra dabis. 
cassibus impositis venor : sed harundine sunipta 

faiitor 2 plumoso sum deiis aucupio. 
est etiani aurigae species Vertuninus et eius, 

traicit alterno qui leve pondus equo. 
suppetat lioc, pisces calamo praedabor, et ibo 

mundus demissis institor in tunicis. 
pastor me ad baculum jjossum curvare ^ vel idem 

sirpiculis medio pulvere ferre rosam. 40 

nam quid ego adiciam, de quo mihi maxima fama est, 

hortorum in manibus dona probata meis ? <• 
caeruleus cucumis tumidoque cucurbita ventre 

me notat et iunco brassica vincta levi ; 
nee flos ullus hiat pratis, quin ille decenter 

impositus fronti langueat ante meae. 
at milii, (juod formas unus vertebar in omnes, 

nomen ab eventu patria lingua dedit. 
et tu, Roma, meis tribuisti praemia Tuscis, 

(unde hodie Vicus nomina Tuscus liabet,) 50 

tempore quo sociis venit Lycomedius armis 

atque Sabina feri contudit arma Tati 
vidi ego labentes acies et tela caduca, 

atque hostes turpi terga dedisse fugae. 
sed facias, divum Sator, ut Romana per aevum 

transeat ante meos turba togata pedes. 

1 lacchi early Renaissance scholars : achei NFL. 

2 fautor Rotshern : fauor N : faunor PL. 

3 pastor me Ayrmann : pastoieui NFL. curvare T : curare 
NFL. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

a turban, I will steal for me the semblance of lacchus ; 
I will steal the semblance of Phoebus if thou wilt but 
give me his lyre. With nets on my shoulder I go 
hunting ; but when the fowler's reed is in my hand I 
am that god who speeds the snaring of feathered fowl. 
Vertumnus takes also the guise of a charioteer, and of 
him who transfers his nimble weight from horse to 
horse. Supply me and with a rod I will take spoil of 
fishj or will go my way a spruce pedlar with trailing 
tunic. I can stoop like a shepherd o'er his crook ; 
I too can bring roses in baskets through the midst of 
summer's dust. For why should I add, since there 
lies my greatest fame, that the garden's choice 
gifts may be seen in my hands ? The dark-green 
cucumber and the gourd with swelling belly and the 
cabbage tied with light rushes mai-k me out. Nor 
grows there any flower in the fields but is placed 
upon my brow and droops in comely fashion before 
my face. Nay, my name sprang from my deeds ; 
'twas because I turned to every shape that my native 
tongue bestowed it on me. 

*^ And thou, Rome, thou didst reward my Tuscan 
kin — from whom to-day the Tuscan street is named 
— what time theLycomedian came with succouring 
host and crushed the Sabine warriors of fierce Tatius. 
I saw the breaking ranks, the weapons cast to earth, 
I saw the foe turn his back in base flight. 

5^ But do thou, O Father of the gods, grant that the 
toga-clad throng of Rome may pass for ever before 
my feet. 



279 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELKGIARVM LIBER IV 

sex superaiit versus : te, qui ad vadimonia curris, 

non inoror : liaec spatiis ultima creta uieis. 
stipes acernus eram, pi-opcranti falce dolatus, 

ante Numam grata pauper in urbe dcus. 60 

at tibi, Mamurri, formae caelator aenae, 

tellus artifices ne terat Osca manus, 
qui me tam dociles potuisti fuiidere in usus. 

unum opus est, operi non datur unus luinos. 



Ill 

Haec Arethusa suo mittit mandata Lycotae, 

cum totiens absis, si potes esse meus. 
si qua tamen tibi lecturo pars oblita derit, 

haec erit e lacrimis facta litura meis : 
aut si qua incerto fallet te littera tractu, 

signa meae dextrae iam morientis erunt. 
te modo viderunt iterates Bactra per ortus, 

te modo munito Neuricus ^ hostis equo, 
hibernique Getae, ])ictoque Britannia curru, 

tinisus^ et Eoa discolor Indus aq-iia. 10 

haecne marita fides et pactae in savia noctes,^ 

cum rudis urgenti bracchia victa dedi ? 
quae mihi deductae fax omen praetulit, ilia 

traxit ab everso lumina nigra rogo ; 

* muniti) Beroaldus : munitus NFL. Neuricus Jacob: 
hericiifl NFL. 

* tuiisus Housman : iistus NFL. 

3 pactae in savia nodes llaupt : et parce avia noctea N : et 
pacatae luihi noctea FL. 

280 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

5' Six lines remain ; I would not delay you that 
hurry to answer your bail ; this is the ending of my 
course. 

59 Once 1 was a majjle stock, rough-hewn with 
huri-ied sickle ; 'twas before Numa's days I dwelt^ no 
wealthy god, in the city of my !ove. But may the 
rude earth ne'er bruise thy cunning hands, Mamurius, 
that didst grave my form in bronze and hadst the 
skill to cast me to such changeful use. Tliy work is 
but one, yet manifold the honour that it wins. 



Ill 

This charge doth Arethusa send to her Lycotas, if I 
may call tliee mine who art so often far from me. 
Yet if any part thou wouldst read be lost and blotted, 
the blot will have been made by my tears ; or if any 
letter baffle thee with uncertain outline, 'twill be the 
token of my right hand that now faints in death. 

' Thee now did Bactra behold in the twice-visited 
East, now the Neuric foe with armoured steed, the 
wintry Getans, and Britain of the painted car and 
the swart Indian washed by the Eastern wave. 

1^ Was this the meaning of thy wedded troth, of the 
night pledged to our kisses, when a stranger in love's 
warfare I yielded to thine onset ? The torch that 
burned with ominous light before me as they led me 
to thy house drew its baleful flame from the ruins 
of some pyre ; I was sprinkled with water from the 



28r 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

et Stygio sum sparsa lacii, iiec recta capillis 

vitta data est : niipsi iioii comitante deo. 
omnibus heu portis ])endeiit mea noxia vota : 

texitur haec castris quarta lacerna tuis. 
occidat, immerita qui carpsit ab arbore vallum 

et struxit querulas rauca per ossa tubas, 20 

dignior obliquo funem qui torqueat Ocno, 

aeternusque tuam pascat, aselle, famem ! 
die mihi, num ^ teneros urit lorica lacertos? 

num gravis imbelles atterit liasta manus ? 
haec noceant potius, quam dentibus ulla puella 

det mihi plorandas per tua eolla notas ! 
diceris et macie vultum tenuasse : sed opto, 

e desiderio sit color iste meo. 
at mihi cum noctes induxit vesper amaras, 

si qua relicta iacent^ osculor arma tua ; 30 

turn queror in toto non sidere pallia lecto, 

lucis et auctores non dare carmen avcs. 
jioctibus hibernis castrensia pensa laboro 

et Tyria in gladios vellera secta suo ; 
et disco, qua parte fluat vincendus Araxes, 

quot sine aqua Parthus milia currat equus ; 
cogor et e tabula pictos ediscere mundos, 

qualis et educti sit positura Dai,^ 
quae tellus sit lenta gelu, quae putris ab aestu, 

ventus in Italiam qui bene vela ferat. 40 

assidet una soror curis, et pallida nutrix 

peierat hiberni temporis esse moras. 



> num r : dum NFL. 

2 educti . . . Dai Ellii : haec docti . . . dei NFL, 



282 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

jiool of Styx, the wreath was set awry upon my hair : 
Hymen was not with me when I wedded. On every 
gate, alas ! are hung my vows for thy safety, vows that 
bring naught save woe, and 'tis now the fourth cloak 
I am weaving for thy warfare. Perish the man first 
plucked the soldier's stake from some unoffending 
tree, and wrought mournful trumpets from hoarse- 
echoing bones ! Worthier he than Ocnus to twist 
the rope, sitting slantwise at the task, and to feed 
thy hungry maw, poor ass, to all eternity ! 

23 Tell me, does the breastplate gall thy soft arms ? 
does the heavy spear chafe thy hands that were not 
meant for war ? Sooner let spear and breastplate 
hurt thee than that any girl should mar thy neck 
with the marks of her teeth, marks that must bring 
me tears to weep ! They say, too, that thy face is 
lean and drawn : only I pray that thy pallor spring 
but from longing for me. 

29 Meanwhile I, when evening brings round for 
me the bitter night, kiss whatever of thy weapons 
lie left at home. Then I complain that the coverlet 
will never stay upon my couch, and that the birds 
that herald dawn are slow to sing. Through the 
nights of winter I toil to weave thee raiment for thy 
life in camp, and sew lengths of woollen cloth purple 
with Tyrian dye, only to meet the sword. I learn 
where flows the Araxes thou must conquer, and how 
many miles the Parthian charger can run without 
slaking his thirst. I am driven also to study from 
a map the painted world and to learn what is the 
position of the far-northern Dahan, what lands are 
stiff with frost, what crumbling with heat, and what 
is the wind that may waft thy sails safe home to Italy. 

*^ My sister only waits on my sorrows, and my nurse, 
turning pale, swears falsely 'tis winter's season that 

283 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
felix Hippolyte ! nuda tulit arma papilla 

et texit i^alea barbara Jiiolle caput. 
Romanis utinain patuissent castra puellis ! 

essem militiae sarcina fida tuae, 
nee me tardarent Scythiae iiiga, cum pater albis 

acrius ^ in glaciem frigore nectit aquas, 
omnis amor magnus^ sed aperto in coniuge niaior : 

banc Venus, ut vivat, ventilat ipsa facem. 50 

nam niilii quo Poenis nunc ^ purpura fulgeat ostris 

crystallusque meas ornet aquosa manus ? 
omnia surda tacent, rarisque assueta kalendis 

vix aperit elausos una puella Lares, 
Craugidos et catulae vox est mibi grata querentis : 

ilia tui partem vindicat una toro. 
flore sacella tego, verbenis compita velo, 

et crepat ad vcteres herba Sabina focos. 
sive in finitimo gemuit stans noctua tigno, 

seu voluit tangi parca lucerna mero, 6o 

ilia dies hornis caedem denuntiat agnis, 

succinctique calent ad nova lucra popae, 
ne, precor, ascensis tanti sit gloria Bactris, 

raptave odorato carbasa lina duci, 
plumbea cum tortae sparguntur pondera fundae, 

subdolus et versis increi)at arcus equis ! 
sed (tua sic domitis Parthae telluris alumnis 

pura triumphantis hasta sequatur equos) 

I acrius Postgate : africus NFL. 
' nunc Jlousman : tibi FL : te N. 



284. 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

delays thee. Happy Hippolyte ! bare-breasted she 
bore arms and savage -hearted hid her soft locks 
beneath the helm. Would that the camps of Rome 
had opened their gates to women ; then had I been 
the faithful burden of thy warfare. Nor would 
Scythia's hills delay me when Father Jove binds the 
deey) waters to ice with keener cold. Love is mighty 
ever^ but mightier far for an acknowledged husband ; 
this flame Venus herself fans that it may live. 

51 To what purpose now should robes of purple shine 
for me with Punic dye or clear crystal adorn my 
fingers? All things are silent and deaf; the Lares' 
closed shrine is opened on the Kalends^ that come 
so seldom, and scarce even then by one solitary 
handmaid on her accustomed round. Dear to me is 
the whine of the little dog Craugis : she only claims 
thy place in my bed. I cover shrines with flowers, I 
wreathe the cross-roads Avith sacred branches, and 
the herb Sabine ^ crackles for me on ancient altars. 
If the owl perched on some neighbouring bough 
makes moan, or the lamp, as it burns low, needs the 
sprinkling of wine,^ that day orders sacrifice of this 
year's lambs, and the high-girt priests busy them- 
selves to win fresh profit. 

63 Count not, I pray, too high the glory of scaling 
Bactra's walls, or the spoil of fine linen torn from 
some })erfumed chief, in that hour when the bolts of 
the twisted sling are scattei'ed abroad and the crafty 
bow twangs from the flying steed ! But — so when 
Parthia's nui'slings are tamed may the headless 

1 There were two kinds of herb Sabine, one resembling a 
cypress in leaf, the other identical with amaracus, or marjoram. 
It was used as incense. 

2 The sputtering of a lamp was a good omen. The wine was 
dropped on the flame to ratify the omen. 

285 



SEXTI PROPERTI RLEGIARVM LIBER IV 
incorriipta mci conscrva fordera lecti ! 

hac ego te sola lege rcdissc veliin : 70 

arniaque eum tulero portae votiva Capenae, 

subscribam salvo grata pvella viro. 



IV 

Tarpeivm nemus el Tarpeiae turpe sepulcrum 

fabor et antiqui limina capta lovis. 
hunc Tatius niontem ^ vallo praccingit acerno, 7 

fidaquc suggesta castra coronat luimo. 
quid turn Roma fuit, tubicen vicina Curetis 

cum quateret lento nuiniuirc saxa lovis, 10 

atque ubi nunc terris dicuntur iura subactis, 

stabant Romano pila Sabina Foro ? ^ 
mums cnnit niontcs : iil)i nunc est Curia saei)ta. 

bellicus exili ^ fonte bibebat equus. 14 

lucus erat felix hederoso conditus antro, 3 

multaque nativis obstiepit arbor aquis, 4 

Silvani rainosa domus, quo dulcis ab arstu 5 

fistula poturas ire iubebat oves.^ 6 

hinc Tarpeia deae fontem libavit : at illi 15 

urgebat medium fictilis unia ca2)ut. 
et satis una malae potuit mors esse puellac, 

quae voluit flanunas fallere, Vesta, tuas ? 

1 montem JIc ins i us : (ontem JVFL. 

2 foro/; foco AFL. 3 exili Postgate: ex illo NFL. 
* 3-6 and 7-14 transposed by Baehrens. 

286 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

spear-shaft^ follow thy tnumphant steeds ! — do thou 
keep unsullied the pact that binds thee to my bed ! 
'Tis the sole condition on which I would have thee 
return ! Then when I shall have carried thine armour 
and votive offering to the C'apene gate I will write 
beneath it : the thankoffering of a grateful wife 

FOR HER husband's SAFETY. 



IV 

I WILL tell of the Tarpeian grove, of Tarpeia's 
shameful tomb, and of the caj^ture of the liouse of 
ancient Jove. This mount did Tatius gird wdth 
palisade of maple and ringed his camp securely with 
circling mound. What was Rome in those days when 
the trumpeter of Cures made the neighboui'ing cliffs, 
where Jove sits throned, tremble before his long- 
drawn blast, and when Sabine javelins stood in the 
Roman Forum, Avhere now laws are given to the con- 
quered world ? Rome had no ramparts save her hills. 
Where now stands the Senate-house hedged in by- 
walls, once the war-horse drank from a slender spring. 

^ A goodly grove there was, hidden in a rocky, ivy- 
mantled glen, and many a tree made answering mur- 
mur to its native springs. 'Twas the branching home 
of Sylvanus, whither the sweet pipe would call the 
sheep from the hot sun to drink. From this spring 
Tarpeia drew water for her goddess, and the urn 
of earthenware bow ed down her head whereon 'twas 
poised. 

^ ' Ah I could one death alone suffice for doom of that 
accursed maid that had the heart to betray thy sacred 

^ A spear-shaft without a head was a reward for distinguished 
military service. 

287 



SRXTI PROI'RRTF KLKGIARVM LIBEU IV 

vidit harcnosis 'laiiuni j)roludere canij)ii: 

pictaque per flavas anna levare iubns ; 20 

obstipuit re<^is facie et regalibus armis^ 

inlerque oblitas excidit urna nianus. 
saepe ilia immeritae causata est oiuina Iiinae, 

et sibi tingciidas dixit in anine comas : 
saepe tulit blandis argentca lilia NyiH)>'nis, 

Roniula ne faoiem lacdcret hasta Tati : 
dunique subit prinio Capitolia iiubila fumo, 

rettulit hirsutis bracchia secta rubis, 
et sua Tarpeia residens ita flevit ab arce 

vulnera, viciiio non patienda lovi : 30 

" Ignes castrorum et Tatiae praetoria turmae 

et formosa^ oculis arma Sabina meis, 
o utinam ad vestros sedeam captiva Penates, 

diun captiva mei conspicer ora ^ Tati I 
Romani uiontes, et monlibus addita Roma, 

et valcat probro Vesta pudenda meo ! 
ille equus, ille meos in castra reponet amores, 

cui Tatius dextras collocat ipse iubas I 
quid mirum in patrios Scyllam saevisse capillos, 

candidaque in saevos inguina versa canes ? 40 

prodita (juid mirum fraterni cornua monstri, 

cum patuit Iccto stamine torta via? 
quantum ego sum Ausoniis crimen factura pucllis, 

improba virgineo lecta minislra foco I 
Pallados exstinctos si quis mirabitur ignes, 

ignoscat : lacrimis spargitur ara meis. 

» formosa T : farnosa NFL. ^ ox& T : esse NFL. 

288 



THP: elegies of PROPERTIUS book IV 

fire, O Vesta ? She saw Tatius practise for battle on 
the sandy plain and lift his flashing spear amid the 
yellow helmet-plumes. Dumbstruck she marvelled at 
the king's face and at the kingly armoui*, and the urn 
fell from her forgetful hands. Often did she plead 
that the moon boded ill — yet the moon was guiltless — 
and said that she must bathe her locks in the running 
stream. Often she offered silvery lilies to the kindly 
nymphs, that the spear of Romulus might not wound 
the face of Tatius ; and while she climbed the Capitol 
clouded with the first smoke of morning she came home 
with arms torn by rough brambles. And thus as she 
sate on the Tarpeian height she bewailed the wounds 
that Jove in his dwelling hard by might not forgive : 

31 " Watchfires of the camp and thou, royal tent 
amidst the host of Tatius, and Sabine armour so lovely 
to mine eyes, would that I might sit a captive before 
yom* household gods, if so I might behold the face of 
Tatius ! Farewell, ye hills of Rome, and Rome that 
crowns the hills, and Vesta brought to shame by my 
sin ! That horse, o'er whose right shoulder Tatius 
smooths the mane, that horse and none other shall 
bear me love-maddened to his camp, my home. 

39 c: What mai'vel if Scylla waxed fierce against her 
father's locks and her white waist was transformed to 
fierce hounds } What marvel that the horns of the 
monstrous brother ^ were betrayed, when the path 
was revealed by the gathering of the thread ? What 
reproach I shall bring upon Ausonia's maids, I the 
traitress that was chosen to be the handmaid of the 
virgin hearth ! If any shall marvel that the fires of 
Pallas 2 are extinguished, let him pardon me ! 1'he 
altar is sprinkled with my tears ! 

1 The Minotaur. 2 ^q image of Minerva was kept in 

the temple of Vesta and reputed to be the Palladium of Troy. 

T 289 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

eras, ut rumor ait, lota purgabitur^ ui'be : 

tu cape spinosi rorida terga iugi. 
lubrica tota via est et perfida : quippe tacentes 

fallaci celat limite semper aquas. 50 

o utinam magicae iiossem cantamina Musae I 

haec quoque formoso lingua tulisset opem. 
te toga picta decet, non quem sine matris honore 

nutrit inliumanae dura papilla lupae. 
sic hospes pariamne tua regina sub aula ? 

dos tibi non humilis prodita Roma venit. 
si minus, at raptae ne sint impune Sabinae, 

me rape et alterna lege repende vices ! 
commissas acies ego possum solvere : nuptae, 

vos medium palla foedus inite mea. 60 

adde Hymenaee modos, tubicen fera murmura conde : 

credite, vestra meus molliet arma torus, 
et iam quarta canit venturam bucina lucem, 

ij^saque in Oceanum sidera lapsa cadunt. 
experiar somnum, de te mihi somnia quaeram : 

fac venias oculis umbra benigna meis." 
dixit, et incerto permisit braccliia somno, 

nescia vae furiis ^ accubuisse novis. 
nam Vesta, Iliacae felix tutela favillae, 

culpam alit et plures condit in ossa faces. 70 

ilia ruit, qualis celerem prope Thermodonla 

Strymonis abscisso pectus ^ aperta sinu. 

1 purgabitur codd. Cantab., Voss. 81, Berolin, Dtez, B. J^l ; 
pugnabitiir NFL. 

2 vae furiis /ta?i .- nefariis A'i^Z. 

3 pectus Hertzherg : fertur NFL. 

290 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

*' "To-morrow, so rumour tells, there shall be a 
})urific;ition through all the city; do thou take the dewy 
ridge of the thorn-clad hill. The path is slippery and 
treacherous through all its length : for alway it hides 
silent waters on its deceitful track. Would that I 
knew the charms of the magic Muse ! Then had my 
tongue also brought thee succour, my beauteous lover ! 
The royal robe beseems thee rather than that mother- 
less wight, whom the rude teat of the savage she- 
wolf suckled. 

56 "Wilt thou make me thy queen on these terms, 
O stranger, and shall I bear thee children in thy halls ? 
With me comes Rome betrayed, no puny dower I If 
thou wilt not have me thus, ravish me and have thy 
vengeance iii turn, that the Sabine maids be not 
ravished unavenged ! I have the power to part the 
hosts when locked in battle : enter, ye brides, on 
reconciling peace ! My robe of marriage shows the 
way ! And do thou, Hymenaeus, sound thy strain : 
trumpeter, hush thy wild blasts ; believe me, my 
marriage-bed shall assuage your warfare. 

63 "Now the fourth bugle sings the approach of 
dawn, and the stars themselves sink to their rest in 
Ocean. I will try sleep and will seek for dreams of 
thee : grant that thy semblance may come to cheer 
mine eyes." 

^"^ She spake, and let fall her arms in uneasy 
slumber : she knew not, alas ! that she had laid her 
down to be the prey of fresh furies. For Vesta, the 
blessed guardian of the Trojan embers, fed her sin 
with fuel and hid more firebrands in her bones. She 
rushed away, like the Strymonian Amazon by swift 
Thermodon's bank, with raiment torn and bosom 
bared to view. 

291 



SEXTI PROPERTl ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
urbi festus erat (dixere Parilia Patres), 

hie primus coepit moenibus esse dies, 
annua pastorum eonvivia, lusus in urbe, 

cum pagana madent fercula divitiis, 
cumque super raros faeni flammantis acervos 

traicit immundos ebria turba ])edcs> 
Romulus excubias decrevit in otia solvi 

atque intermissa castia silei-e tuba. 80 

hoc Tarpeia suum tempus rata convenit hosttni : 

pacta ligat, pactis ipsa futura comes, 
mons erat ascensu dubius festoqtic remissus t^ 

nee mora, vocales occupat ense canes, 
omnia praebebant somnos : sed luppiter unus 

decrevit poenis invigilare tuis. 
prodiderat portaeque fidem patriamque iacentem, 

nubcnilique petit, quem velit, ipsa diem, 
at Tatius (neque enim scelcri dcdit hostis 
honorcm) 

" Nube " ait " et regni scande cubile mei ! " 90 
dixit, ct ingestis coniitum super obruit armis. 

hacc, virgc), officiis dos erat apta tuis. 
a duce Tarpeia mons est cognomen adeptus : 

vigil, iniuste ^ praemia sortis habes. 

1 immiiinlos . . . \)edes Ttali : iminmulas . . . dapQS NFL. 

2 remissus iV.- remi&sis FL. 3 iuiuate i^X; iniustae i\^ 



iyi 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

'^ 'Twas a feast-day in the city — the Fathers named 
it Parilia — the birthday of the walls of Rome^ the 
yearly banquet of the shepherds, when the city makes 
merry, when country platters are moistened with rich 
fare, and the drunken crowd flings dust-stained feet 
o'er heaps of burning hay placed here and there. 
Romulus decreed that the watchmen should take 
their ease in rest, that the trumpet should be laid 
aside and the camp have silence. Tarpeia deemed 
her hour had come and met the foeman : she made 
her pact, herself a part thereof. 

^^ The hill was treacherous of ascent, but unguarded 
by reason of the feast ; of a sudden with his sword 
he cuts down the noisy watchdogs. All was slumber : 
only Jove had resolved to wake that he might work 
thy doom. She had betrayed the secret of the gate, 
betrayed her prostrate country, and asked for mar- 
riage on the day of her own choice. But Tatius — for 
even the foe gave no honour to crime — answered : 
" Marry then, and climb thus my royal bed." He 
spake and bade his comrades crush her beneath their 
piled shields. Such, Vestal, was thy dower, meet 
guerdon of thy services. 

^^ The hill took its name from Tarpeia, the foe- 
man's guide. O watcher, unjustly hast thou won this 
recompense for thy doom.^ 

1 I.e., such was Tarpeia's crime that she did not deserve to 
have the rock called after her. 



"i.^^ 



SEXTI PROPRRTI KLEGIARVM LIBER IV 



Terra tiuim spinis obducat, lena, sepulcriim, 

et tua, quod non vis^ senti.it umbra sitini ; 
nee sedcant cincri Manes, et Cerberus ultor 

turpia ieiuno terreat ossa sono ! 
docta vel Hippolytum Veneri moUire negantem, 

concordique toro pessima semper avis, 
Penelopen quoque neglecto rumove mariti 

niibere lascivo cogeret Aiitinoo. 
ilia velit, poterit magnes non ducere ferrum, 

et volucris nidis esse noverca suis. 10 

quippe et, CoUinas ad fossam moverit lierbas, 

stantia currenti diluerentur aqua : 
audax cantatae leges imponere lunae 

et sua nocturno fallere terga lupo, 
posset ut ^ intentos astu caecare maritos, 

eoi-nicum immeritas eruit ungue genas, 
consuluitque striges nostro de sanguine, et in me 

liippomanes fetae semina legit equae. 
exercebat opus verbis lieu blanda perinde 

saxosam atque forat sedula talpa ^ viam : 20 

" Si tc Eoa fDorozantum ^ iuvat aurea rijia, 

et quae sub Tvria concha superbit aqua, 

1 ut b- : et ^FL. 

2 exercebat . . . hen LlaTula periiule saxo?am atque Ilnus- 
man: exorabat . . . ceu blanda perure saxo^anniue AFL. 
forat Rossben/ : ferat NFL. talpa v: culpa NFL. 

3 dorozantuai N: derorantum FL ; jjrolally corrupt. 

'294 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 



May the eartli cover tliy tomb with thorns^ thou 
bawdj and may thy shade be parched with thirst, for 
thirst tliou hatest. May thy ghost find no rest 
amojig thine ashes, and may vengeful Cerberus fright 
thy dishonoured bones with hungry howl. 

^ Skilled to win even Hippolytus that said 
"Nay" to love, and ever worst of omens to lovers' 
peace, she could force even Penelope to be deaf to 
rumours of her husband's safety and to wed with 
wanton Antinous. Should she will it, tlie magnet 
will refuse to draw the steel, and the bird prove a 
stepmother to her nestlings. Nay, did she bring 
herbs from the Colline field to the magic trench, 
things solid would dissolve into running water. She 
dared put spells upon the moon to do her bidding 
and to disguise her shape beneath the form of the 
night-prowling wolf, that by her cunning she might 
blind jealous husbands, and with her nails she tore 
out the undeserving eyes of crows ; she consulted 
owls how she might have my blood, and gathered 
for my destruction the charm that drips from the 
pregnant mare.^ 

1^ She plied her task, alas ! with flattering words, 
even as the persistent mole bores out its stony path. 
Thus would she speak : " If the golden shores of the 
Dorozantes delight thee, or the shell that flaunts 
its purple in the Tyrian sea, if Eurypylus' weft of 

1 Cp. Vergil, Georg. III. 280 : hlppovianes vero quod nomine 
dicunt I pastorcs, Icntum distillat ah inguine virus \ hippo- 
tjianes, quod saepe malae legere novercae. 



%95 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

Eurypylique placet Coae textura Mincrvae, 

sectaque ab Attalicis jnitria signa toris, 
seu quae palmiferae mittunt venalia Thebae, 

murreaque in Parthis pocula cocta focis ; 
sperne fidem, provolve deos, mendacia vincant, 

frange et ^ daniiiosae iura pudicitiae ! 
et simulare virum pretium facit : utere causis ! 

maior dilata nocte recurret amor. SO 

si tibi forte comas vexaverit, utilis ira : 

postmodo mercata pace premendus erit. 
denique ubi amplexu Venerem promiseris empto, 

fac simules puros Isidis esse dies. 
ingerat Apriles lole tibi^ tundat Amycle 

natalem Mais Idibus esse tuum. 
supplcx ille sedet — posita tu scribe catliedra 

qiiidlibet : has artes si pavet ille, tenes I 
semper habe morsus circa tua colla recentes, 

litibus alternis quos putet esse dates. 40 

nee te Medeae delectent probra sequacis 

(nempe tulit fastus ausa rogare prior), 
sed potius mundi Thais pretiosa Menandri, 

cum ferit astutos comica moecha Getus. 
in mores te verte viri : si cantica iactat, 

i comes et voces ebria iunge tuas. 
ianitor ad dantes vigilet : si pulset inanis, 

surdus in obductam somniet usque serani.- 

* frange et S" : frangent NFL. 

2 This couplet is found in a Pompeian ivall-inicription ; ste 
C.I.L. 4, 1S94, The inscription gives dantis and pulsat. 

296 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

Coan silk please thee oi* crumbling figures cut from 
coverlets of gold, or the wares sent from palm-bear- 
ing Thebes and myrrhine ^ goblets baked in Parthian 
kilns, then spurn thine oath, and down with the 
gods ! Let lies win the day ! Break all the laws of 
chastity ; they bring but loss ! Feign that thou hast 
a husband ; 'twill heighten thy price ! Use every 
excuse ! Love Avill return with added fire after a 
night's delay. If perchance he be angry and tear 
thy hair, his anger shall bring thee profit ; after 
that thou must torment him till he purchase peace. 
Then when he has bought thine embraces and thou 
hast promised him enjoyment of thy love, see that 
thou feign that the days of Isis are come, enjoin- 
ing abstinence. Let lole thrust on thy notice that 
April's Kalends are near, let Amycle din into thine 
ears that thy birthday falls on the Ides of May. He 
sits in supplication before thee. Take thy chair and 
write somewhat : if he trembles at these tricks thou 
liast him fast ! Ever have fresh bites about thy 
throat, that he may deem to have been given in the 
strife of love. But delight not thou in the railing of 
importunate Medea — she was cast off that had dared 
be first to ask for love. But rather be costly Thais thy 
pattern, of whom Menander's wit hath told, when the 
harlot of the stage tricks the shrewd Scythian slaves. 
^^ " Change thy ways to suit thy man. If he 
boasts his powers of song, accompany him and join 
thy drunken voice to his. Let thy porter be open- 
eyed for them that bring gifts ; if he that knocks be 
empty-handed, let him sleep on, propped on the bar 

1 It is not certain what murra was. Some take it to be 
Chinese porcelain, others hold it to be fluor-spar. Propertius 
seems to describe it as baked in kilns. Pliny, however, speaks 
of it as a natural product caused by the heat of the earth. 

297 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

nee tibi dis])liccat miles noii factus amori, 

nauta nee attrita si ferat aera niami, 50 

aut quoriiin titulus per barbara colla pependit, 

eretati ^ medio cum saluere foro. 
aurnm spectato, non quae manus afferat auvum ! 

vevsibus auditis quid nisi verba feres ? 
Quid iuvat ornato procedere, vita^ capillo 

et tenuis Coa veste movere sinus ? ' 
qui versus, Coae dederit nee munera vestis, 

ipsius tibi sit surda sine acre ^ lyi'f>- 
dum vernat sanguis, dum rugis integer annus, 

utere, ne quid eras libet ab ore dies ! 60 

vidi ego odorati victura rosaria Paesti 

sub matutino cocta iacere Noto." 
his aniraum nostrae dum versat Acanthis amicae, 

per tenuem ossa milii sunt numerata cutem.^ 
sed cape torquatae, Venus o regina, columbae 

ob meritum ante tuos guttura secta focos. 
vidi ego rugoso tussim concrescere collo, 

sputaque per dentes ire cruenta cavos, 
atque animam in tcgctes putrem cxsi)irare paternas : 

horruit algenti pergula curta '^ fuco. 70 

exsequiae fuerant rari furtiva capilli 

vincula et immundo pallida miti'a situ, 
et canis, in nostros nimis experrecta dolores, 

cum fallenda meo pollice clatra forent. 

1 eretati Passc7-at : caelati NFL. 2 acre N : arte FL. 

3 temiem ossa uiihi . . , ciitein Jacob: tenues ossa . . . 
cutes NFL. 

* pergnia Berouldus : percula NL; parvula F. curta 5": 
curva A'FL. 

298 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

that is drawn across the door. Nor would I have tliee 
spurn soldiers not made for love^ nor sailors^ if their 
horny hands bring coin, nor yet one of those on whose 
barbarian necks the salesman's bill has hung, when 
with whitened feet they danced in the market- 
place.' Look to the gold, not to the hand that brings 
it. Though thou give ear to their verse, what will be 
thine save empty words ? ' What boots it, light of 
my life, to go forth with locks adorned, and to rustle 
in slender folds of Coan silk ? ' ^ Who brings thee 
verse yet never a gift of Coan raiment, let his lyre meet 
with deaf ears, since it brings no pelf. While spring 
is in the blood and thy years know not wrinkles, use 
thy time, lest the morrow take toll of thy beauty ! 
I have seen the rose-beds of perfumed Paestum 
that should have lived lie blasted at morn by the 
Scirocco's breath." 

^^ While thus Acanthis plied my mistress' soul, all 
my bones might be counted beneath the shrunken 
skin. But do thou. Queen Venus, receive my thank- 
offering, a i-ing-dove's throat cut before thine altar, 
I saw the cough clot in her wrinkled throat, and 
the bloodstained spittle trickle through her hollow 
teeth. I saw her breathe out her plague-struck 
spirit on the blankets that were once her father's : 
the hearth was chill and the broken shed where she 
lay shivered for cold. For pomp of funeral she had 
but the stolen bands that bound her scanty hair, a 
mutch with colour dimmed by foul neglect ; and the 
dog that of old was over-wakeful for my woes, when 
with stealthy fingers I had to slip the bolts that 

1 It was customary to whiten the feet of slaves put up 
for sale. They were made to dance to show their physical 
vigour. 

8 A quotation from I. ll. 1, 2. 

299 



QjuJbi -^^^^ 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

sit tumulus Icnae curto vetus amphora collo : 
urgeat hunc su})ra vis, caprifice, tun. 

quisquis araas, scabris hoc bustum caedite saxis, 
niixtaque cum saxis addite verba mala ! 



VI 

Sacra facit vates : sint gr a faventia sacris, 

et cadat ante meos icta iuvenca focos. 
serta ^ Philetaeis certet Romana corjanbis, 

et Cyrenaeas urna ministret aquas. 
^ostum moUe date et blandi milii turis honores, 

terque focum circa laneus orbis eat. 
spargite me lymphis, carmenque reccntibus aris 

tibia Mygdoniis libet eburna cadjis. 
ite procul fraudes, alio sint aere noxae : 

pura novum vati laurea mollit iter. 10 

Musa, Palatini referemus Apollinis aedein : 

res est, Callio})e, digna favore tuo. 
Caesaris in nomen ducuntur carmina : Caesar 

dum canitur, quaeso, luppiter ipse vaces. 
est Plioebi fugiens Athamana ad litora portus, 

qua sinus loniae muiunura condit aquae, 
Actia luleae pelagus monumenta carinae, 

nautarum votis non operosa via. 
hue mundi coiere manus : stetit aequore moles 

piuea, nee reniis aequa favebat avis. 20 

1 serta Scaliger : cera A'PL. 
300 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

barred the door. Let the bawd's tomb be an old 
wine-jar with broken neck, and over it, wild fig-tree, 
]nit thou forth thy might. Whoe'er thou art that 
lovest, batter this grave with jagged stones, and 
mingled with the stones add words of cursing ! 



VI 

The priest doth sacrifice ; be silent all that his sacri- 
fice may ])ros})cr, and let the heifer ftxll smitten before 
mine altar-hearths. Let the garland of Rome vie 
with the ivy-clusters of Philetas, and let the urn 
serve me with water of Cyrene. Give me soft nard 
and offerings of ap2:)easing incense, and thrice about 
the hearth be the woollen fillet twined. Sprinkle 
me with water, and by the new-built altar let the 
ivory pipe make libation of song from Phrygian 
vessels. Fly hence afar all guile, and beneath other 
skies let mischief dwell ; new is the path the priest 
must tread, but the pure laurel-branch doth make it 
smooth for him. 

^1 My Muse, we will tell of the temple of Palatine 
A})ollo ; Calliope, the theme is worthy of thy favour. 
My songs are spun for the glory of Caesar : while 
Caesar is the theme of song, do thou, Jupiter, even 
thou, rest from thy labours and give ear. 

^^ By the Athamanian shores where Phoebus dwells 
there lies a haven, whose bay hushes the roar of the 
Ionian sea, Actium's wide water that guards the 
memory of the Julian bark, and gives easy entrance 
to the mariner's prayer. Here met the hosts of all 
the world : motionless on the deep stood the huge 
ships of pine, yet smiled not fortune alike on all their 

301 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGlARVM LIBER IV 

altera classis erat Teucro danmata Quirino, 

pilaque femineae tiu:i)itei* apta nianu : 
hinc Augusta ratis plenis lovis omine velis, 

signaque iam patriae vincerc docta suae, 
tandem acies geminos Nereus l unar at in arcus, 

armorum et radiis })icta tremebat aqua, 
cum Phoebus liuquens stantem se vindice Delon 

(nam tulit iratos mobilis una ^ Notos) 
astitit Augusti puppim super, et nova flamma 

luxit in obliquam ter sinuata faceni. ."^O 

non ille attulerat crines in colla solutes 

aut testudineae carmen inerme lyrae, 
sed quali aspexit Pelopeum Agamemnona \ullu, 

egessitque a\ idis Dorica castra rogis, 
aut qualis flexos solvit Pythona per orbes 

serpentem, imbelles qucm timuere deae.'^ 
mox ait " O longa mundi servator ab Alba, 

Auguste, Hectoreis cognite maior avis, 
vince mari : iam terra tua est : tibi militat arcus 

et favet ex umeris hoc onus omne meis. 40 

solve metu patriam, quae nunc tc vindice freta 

imposuit prorae publica vota tuae. 
quam nisi defendes, murorum Romulus augur 

ire Palatinas non bene vidit aves. 
et nimium remis audent prope : turpe Latinos ^ 

principe te fluctus regia vela pati. 

1 una r: unda NFL. 

2 deae ed. Etoncnsis : lyrae yPL. 

3 Latinos Markland: latinis A'FL. 

S02 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

oars. There stood one fleet, doomed by Trojan 
Quirinus, and Roman javelins — ah ! shame ! — -were 
grasped in a woman's liand. And there stood the 
ship of Augustus, its sails filled by the blessing of 
Jove, its standards long since taught to conquer for 
their country's sake. And now Nereus had bent the 
lines to twin crescent curves and the water quivered 
bright with the flash of arms^ when Phoebus, leaving 
Delos, that abides firmly rooted now beneath his pro- 
tection — for once alone of isles it was the sport of the 
South Wind's anger — took his stand above Augustus' 
ship, and thrice a strange flame shone forth, bent like 
the slant lightning-flash. He came not with hair 
streaming o'er his neck or with peaceful music of the 
tortoise lyre ; but his face was as when he looked on 
Agamemnon Pelops' son, and carried forth the warriors 
of the Dorian camp to the greedy funeral pyi-e ; ^ or 
as when he slew the serpent Python, the terror of 
the peaceful Muses, and relaxed its coils in death. 

37 Then he spake : " O saviour of the world, Augus- 
tus, sprung from Alba Longa and known for greater 
than thy Trojan sires, conquer now by sea ! Already the 
land is thine. My bow fights for thee, and every arrow 
that burdens my shoulders wishes thee well. Free 
thy country from fear, thy country tliat, relying on 
thy protection, hath freighted thy bark with a nation's 
prayers. If thou defend her not, 'twas in evil hour 
that Romulus, as he sought omens for the founding 
of his walls, beheld the birds fly forth from the 
Palatine. Aye ! and too near they venture with their 
oars ! Shame that Latium's waves, while thou art 
prince, should bear the sails of a queen ! Nor let it 

1 A reference to the plague sent by Apollo to punish 
Agamemnon for the rape of Chryseis. See Iliad, i. 

303 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LI HER IV 
nee te, quod classis eentenis remiget alls, 

terreat : invito labitur ilia mari : 
quodque vehiint prorae Centaurica saxa minantes, 

tigna cava et pietos oxprrig yfi met.iis. 50 

frangit et attollit vii-es in milite causa ; 

quae nisi iusta subest, excutit arnia pudor. 
tempus adest, eonimitte rates : ego temporis auctor 

ducam laurigera lulia rostra manu." 
dixerat, et pharetrae pondus consumit in arcus : 

proxinia post arcus Caesaris hasta fuit. 
vincit Roma fide Phoebi : dat femina poenas : 

sceptra per lonias fracta vehuntur aquas, 
at pater Idalio mii'atur Caesar ab astro : 

" Sum deus ; est nostri sanguinis ista fides." 6o 
prosequitur cantu Triton, omnesque marinae 

plauserunt circa libera signa deae. 
ilia petit Nilum cumba male nixa fugaci, 

hoc unum, iusso non moritura die. 
di melius ! quantus mulier foret una triumphus, 

ductus erat per quas ante lugurtha vias ! 
Actius hinc traxit Phoebus monumenta, quod eius 

una decem vicit missa sagitta rates, 
bella satis cecini : citharam iam poscit Apollo 

victor et ad placidos exuit arma choros. 70 

Candida nunc molli subeant convivia luco ; 

blanditiaeque fluant per mea colla rosae, 

304 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

fright thee that their fleet is winged, each ship, with an 
hundred oars. The sea whereon it sails Avill have none 
of it. And though the prows bear figures threaten- 
ing to cast rocks such as centaurs throw, tliou shalt 
find them but hollow planks and painted terrors. 
'Tis his cause that makes or mars a soldier's strength. 
If the cause be not just, shame strikes the weapon 
from his hands. The time is come ! Launch thy ships 
upon the foe ! 'Tis I aj^point the hour of battle and 
will guide the Julian prows with laurel-bearing hand." 

^^ He spake and gave his quiver's burden to the 
bow ; after his shafts the spear of Caesar was first 
to fly. Phoebus kept troth and Rome conquered ; 
the woman met her doom, and broken sceptres 
floated on Ionia's waves. But his sire Caesar gazed 
marvelling from his Idalian star : ^ "I am a god, and 
thy victory gives proof that thou art sprung from our 
blood." Triton hailed the victor with his song, and 
all the sea-goddesses clapped their hands around the 
standards of liberty. But she, vainly trusting in her 
flying sloop, sought the Nile ; this only did she win, 
death at the hour of her own choice. Heaven willed 
it and 'twas better so ; how mean a triumph would one 
woman make in those streets through which Jugurtha 
once was led ! 

^^ Hence Actian Phoebus won his temple. Each 
arrow sped from his bow vanquished ten vessels of 
the foe. 

®^ I have sung enough of war : victorious Apollo 
now demands my lyre, and doff's his armour for the 
dances of peace. Let white-robed banqueters enter 
the luxuriant grove, and winsome roses stream about 

1 The star of Caesar was a comet which appeared shortly 
after his death. It is called Idalian because the yens lulia 
traced their descent from Venus throufrh Aeneas. 

u 305 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
vinaque fundantur prelis elisa Falernis, 

terque ^ lavet nostras spica Cilissa comas, 
ingeiiium potis ^ irritet Musa poetis : 

Bacche, soles Phoebo fertilis esse tuo. 
ille paludosos memoret servire Sycambros, 

Ceplieam hie Meroen ^^scaque regna canat, 
hie referat sero confessum foedere Parthum : 

" Reddat signa Remi, mox dabit ipse sua : 80 

sive aliquid pharetris Augustus parcel KoiSj 

differat in pueros ista tropaea sues, 
gaude, Crasse, nigras si quid sapis inter harenas : 

ire per Euphraten ad tua busta licet." 
sic noctem patera, sic ducani carmine, donee 

iniciat radios in mea vina dies. 

VII 

SvNT aliquid Manes : letum non omnia finit, 

luridaque evictos ^ eftugit umbra rogos. 
Cynthia namque meo visa est incumbere fulcro, 

murmur ad extremae nuper humata viae, 
cum mihi somnus ab exsequiis pcnderet amoris, 

et quererer lecti frigida regna mei. 
eosdem habuit secum quibus est elata capillis, 

eosdem oculos : latei-i vestis adusta fuit, 
et solitum digito beryllon adedei-at ignis, 

sunmiaque Lethaeus triverat ora liquor. IQ 

spirantisque animos et vocem misit : at illi 

pollicibus fragiles increpuere man us : 

1 terque T : perque NFL. 2 potis T : positis NFL. 

3 evictos r : eiunctos N : evinctos FL. 

306 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

my neck. Be wine outpoured crushed in Falernian 
presses, and thrice let CiHcian saffron bathe ray locks. 
Let the Muse stir poets that now are fired with wine ; 
Bacchus, 'tis thy wont to inspire Phoebus wliom thou 
lovest. Let one tell how the Sycambri of the marsh 
have bowed to slavery, another sing of the dusky 
realms of Cephean Meroe ; let anotlier record how 
late in time the Parthian hath made truce and owned 
defeat. " Let him return the standards of Renuis ; 
soon shall he yield up his own. Or if Augustus spare 
for a little the quivers of the East, let him put off 
those trophies that his boys ^ may win them. Rejoice, 
Crassus, if thou knowest aught in the darkness of the 
sands where thou liest : now may we cross Euphrates 
to thy grave." Thus will I pass the night Avith drink 
and thus with song, till dawn shall cast its rays upon 
my wine. 

VII 

The Shades are no fable : death is not the end of 
all, and the pale ghost escapes the vanquished pyre. 
For Cynthia seemed to bend o' er my couch's head, 
Cynthia so lately buried beside the roaring road, as 
fresh from love's entombment I slept a broken sleep 
and mourned that the bed that was my kingdom was 
void and cold. Her haii-, her eyes were the same as 
when she was borne to the grave : her raiment was 
charred against her side, and the fire had eaten away 
the beryl ring her finger wore, and the water of 
Lethe had withered her lips. Si)irit and voice yet 
lived, but the thumb-bones rattled on her brittle 
hands. 

1 The grandsons of Augustus, Lucius and Caius Caesar. 

307 



SEXri PUOPEKTl ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
" Perfide uec cuiquara melior sperande pucllac, 

in te iam vires soninus habere })otest ? 
lamne tibi exciderant vigilacis furta Suburae 

et mea nocturnis trita fenestra dolis ? 
per quani deniisso quotiens tibi fune pejjendi, 

alterna venicns in tua colla manu ! 
saepe Venus trivio commissa ^ est^ pcctore mixto 

fecerunt tepidas pallia nostra vias. 20 

foederis heu taciti, cuius fallacia verba 

non audituri diripuere Noti I 
at mihi non oculos quisquam inclamavit euntis : 

unum impetrassem te revocante diem : 
nee crepuit fissa me propter harundine custos, 

laesit et obiectum tegula curta caput, 
denique quis nostro curvum te funere vidit, 

atram quis lacrimis incaluisse togam ? 
si piguit portas ultra proccdere, at illiic 

iussisses lectum lentius ire mcuni. SO 

cur ventos non ipse rogis^ ingrate, petisti ? 

cur nardo flanimae non oluere nieae ? 
hoc etiam grave erat, nulla mercede hyacinthos 

inicere et fracto busta piare cado. 
Lygdamus uratur, candescat lammina \ trnae : 

sensi ego, cum insidiis pallida vina bibi. 
aut Nomas arcanas tollat versuta salivas : 

dicet damnatas ignea testa manus. 

^ coiiiniijsa r : commizta NFL. 
306 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

13 « False heart ! " she cried, " — yet ne'er may 
woman hope for truer— can sleep have power on 
thee so soon ? So soon hast thou forgotten the guile 
we practised in the sleepless Subui'a and my window 
worn by our cunning in the night ? — that window 
from which so oft for thy sake I let down the rope 
and hung in mid air, as with alternate hand descend- 
ing I came to thine embrace. Oft at the cross-ways 
were our rites accomplished and the road grew warm 
beneath our cloaks as we lay breast to breast. Alas 
for that wordless bond whose cheating terms the 
deaf wind of the South- West has swept away ! Yet 
no man called upon my nam.e as I passed and mine 
eyelids closed : surely hadst thou recalled me, I had 
been granted one more day. No watchman rattled 
his cleft reed for my sake, and a broken tile wounded 
my defenceless brow.^ Aye, and who saw thee bowed 
with grief at my graveside ? who saw thy i*obe of 
mourning grow hot with thy tears ? If it vexed 
thee to go further than my portal, yet thus far thou 
mightest have bidden my bier be borne more slowly. 
Why, ungrateful, prayedst thou not for winds to fan 
my pyre ? Why were the flames wherein I burned 
not fragrant with nard ? Was this also a burden, to 
cast hyacinths — no costly gift — upon me and to ap- 
pease mine ashes with wine from the shattered jar ? 

25 " Let Lygdamus be burned, let the branding-iron 
glow white for the slave of mine house ! I knew his 
guilt when I drank the wine that struck me pale. 
And as for cunning Nomas, let her hide her secret 
poisons if she will I The burning potsherd shall convict 

1 The meaning of this line is uncertain. It may mean 
(1) that her head was propped on the bier by a broken tile, 
or (2) that on the way to burial lier head was cut by a falling 
tile. 



SEXTl PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

quae modo per viles inspecta est publica noctes, 

haec nunc aurata cyclade signat hunium, 40 

et graviora I'ependit iniquis pensa quasillis, 

garrula de fiicie si qua locuta mea est ; 
nostraque quod Petale tulit ad monumenta 
coronas, 

codicis immundi vincula sentit anus ; 
caeditur et Lalage tortis suspensa capillis, 

per nomen quoniam est ausa rogare meum ; 
te patiente meae conflavit imaginis aurum, 

ardente e nostro dotem habitura rogo. 
non tamen insector, quamvis mereare, ]*roperti : 

longa mea in lil)ris regna fiiere tuis. 50 

iuro ego Fatorum nulli revolubile carmen, 

tergeminusque canis sic milii molle sonet, 
me servasse fidem. si fallo, vipera nostris 

sibilet in tumulis et super ossa cubet. 
nam gemina est sedes tur])em sortita per amnem, 

turbaque diversa remigat omnis aqua : 
una Clytaemestrae stuprum vehit, altera Cressae 

portat mentitae lignea monstra bovis : 
ecce coronato pars altera rapta i phaselo, 

mulcet ubi Elysias aura beata rosas, 60 

qua numerosa fides, quaque aera rotunda^ Cybelles 

mitratisque sonant Lydia plectra choris. 
Andromedeque et Hypermestre sine fraude 
maritae 

narrant liistorias, pectora nota, suas : ^ 
haec sua maternis * queritur livere catcnis 

bracchia nee meritas frigida saxa man us ; 

' rapta Palmer : parta NFL. 

* quaque aera rotunda Turnehus : qua quaerar ut unda iV, 
and similar corruptions in PL. 

3 historias . . . e»as Markland : historiae . . . suae NFL. 

* sua maternis /u : suma eteruis L: aumma eternia NP. 
310 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

her hands of guilt. She that of old was public to 
all men's gaze and asked so little for her love, 
now marks the dust with her train's golden hem, 
and if some chattering slave hath praised my beauty, 
requites her unjustly with heavier tasks of wool. 
For bearing wreaths to my sepulchre aged Petale 
is shackled to a foul clog of wood, while Lalage is 
hung by her twisted hair and scourged for daring to 
ask a boon in my name. 

*' "And thou didst suffer her to melt mine image 
of gold, that so she might win her dowry from the 
flame that consumed me. Yet I chide thee not, 
Propertius, though thou deservest my chiding : long 
did 1 reign supreme in thy songs. I swear by the 
chant of the Fates that none may make unsung (and 
may the three-headed hound lull his baying for me, 
as I speak true), I swear that I kept faith to thee. 
If I lie, may the adder hiss on my tomb and couch 
above my bones. 

65 a Xwo mansions are there allotted beside the 
foul stream of Hell, and all the dead must ply the 
oar this way or that. One bark bears the adultery 
of Clytemestra, another the monstrous timber of the 
feigned Cretan cow ; ^ but lo ! yet others are swept 
away in wreathed boat, where blessed airs fan the 
roses of Elysium, where the harp makes music and 
the round cymbals of Cybelle, and turbaned dancers 
strike the Lydian lyre. Andromede and Hyper- 
mestra, souls renowned, wives Avithout blame, tell 
forth their story. The one complains that her arms 
are bruised with the chams brought on her by her 
mother's pride, and that her hands deserved not to 

1 See Pasiphae, Index. 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

narrat Hypermestre magnum ausas esse sorores, 

in scelus hoc animum non valuisse suum. 
sic mortis lacrimis vitae sanamus amores : 

celo ego perfidiae crimina multa tuae. 70 ! 

sed tibi nunc mandata damus, si forte moveris 

si te non totum Chloridos herba tenet : 
nutrix in tremulis ne quid desiderct annis 

Parthenie : patuit/ nee tibi avara fuit : 
deliciaeque meae Latris, cui nomen ab usu est, 

ne speculum dominae porrigat ilia novae : 
et quoscumque meo fecisti nomine versus, 

ure milii : laudes desine habere meas. 
pelle hederam tumulo, mihi quae pugnaiite 
corymbo 

mollia 2 contortis alligat ossa comis ; 80 

ramosis Anio qua pomifer incubat arvis, 

et numquam Herculeo numine pallet ebur ; 
hie carmen media dignum me scribe columiia, 

sed breve, quod currens vector ab urbe legat : 

HU; TIBVRTINA lACET AVREA CYNTHIA TERRA : 
ACCESSIT RII'AE LAVS, ANIENE, TVAE. 

nec tu sperne piis venientia soninia j^ortis : 
cum pia venerunt somnia, pondus habent. 

nocte vagae ferimur, nox clausas liberat umbras, 
errat et abiecta Cerberus ipse sera. 90 

luce iubent leges Lethaea ad stagna reverti : 
nos vehimur, vectum nauta recenset onus. 



1 patuit r : potuit NFL. 

2 mollia r : molli NFL. 



312 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

be bound to icy crags. Hypermestra tells how her 
sisters dared a mighty deed, and how she had not 
heart for sucli a crime. 'Jhus with the tears of deatli 
we heal the passions of life ; I hide in silence the 
many sins of thy faithlessness. 

'1 " But now I charge thee, if perchance my words 
move thee, and the spells ^ of Chloris hold not all 
thy soul : let my nui'se Parthenie lack naught in her 
years of palsied eld ; she was kind to thee and 
clutched not at thy gold. And let not my darling 
Latris, whose name came from her service," hold u]) 
the mirror for another mistress. And all the verses 
thou didst make in mine honour, burn them, I pray 
thee ; cease to win praise through me. Drive the 
ivy from my tomb, that with grappling cluster and 
twining leaves binds my frail bones, where apple- 
l^aring Anio broods o'er its orchard meadows and by 
J ., favour of Hercules the ivory ne'er grows yellow.-' 
1 Ad write these verses on a pillar's midst ; they shall 

-worthy of me, but brief, that the traveller may 
^ud them as he hastens by: here golden cynthi.\ 

p.S IN THE fields OF TIBUR. ANIO, NEW PRAISE IS 
jj^;)ED TO THY BANK. 

T-8' "Nor spurn thou visions that come through 
holy portals ; when dreams are holy they ha\'e the 
weight of truth. By night we range in wandering 
flight ; night frees the prisoned shades, and Cer- 
berus himself strays at will, the bar that chains him 
cast aside. At dawn Hell's oixlinance bids us return 
to the pools of Lethe : we are ferried over and the 
mariner tells o'er his freight. 

1 Lit. "herbs" = love-philtre. 
^ Latris, from \a.Tpeieiv, " to serve." 

3 The air of Tibur was supposed to preserve ivory. Hercules 
was specially worshipped there. 

SIS 



SEXTI PROPEIiri ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
nunc 1 te possideant aliae : mox sola tenebo : 

mecum eris, et niixtis ossibus ossa teram." 
haec postquam querula mecum sub lite peregit, 

inter complexus excidit umbra meos. 



VIII 

DiscE, quid Esquilias hac nocte fugarit aquosas, 

cum vicina Novis turba cucurrit Ajrris. 
Lanuvium annosi vetus est tutela draconis : 

hie tibi 2 tarn rarae non perit hora morae ; 
qua sacer abripitur caeco descensus hiatu, 

qua })enetrat (virgo, tale iter omne cave !) 
ieiuni serpentis lionos, cum pabula poscit 

annua et ex ima sibila torquet humo. 
talia demissae pallent ad sacra jDuellae, 80 

cum temere anguino creditur ore manus. 
ille sibi admotas a virgine corripit escas : 

virginis in palmis ipsa canistra treuumt. 
si fuerint castae, redeunt in colla parentum^ 

clamantque agricolae " Fertilis annus eiit." 
hue mea detonsis avecta est C3^nthia mannis :^ 

causa fuit luno^ sed mage causa Venus. 
Appia, die quacso, quantum te teste triumphum 

egerit eff'usis per tua saxa rotis^, 
[turpis in arcana sonuit cum rixa taberna ; 

si sine me, famae non sine labe meae.*] 20 

^ nunc N: nee PL. 2 hjc tibi r : hie ubi NFL. 

3 mannis Beroaldus : ab annis NFL. 

4 This couplet is clearly alien to the context : Lutjohann would 
place it after line 2, perhaps rightly. 

314 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

93 ce Now let others possess thee ! Soon shalt thou 
be mine alone ; with me shalt thou be, and I will 
grind bone with mingled bone." 

85 When thus in querulous plaint she had brought 
her tale to a close, her spirit vanished from my 
embrace. 

VIII 

Learn what this night struck panic through the 
watery Esquiline, when all the neighbours ran head- 
long through the New Fields. 

^ Lanuvium is from of old under the guard of 
an ancient sei'}>ent ; thou shalt not count it wasted 
time if thou give an hour to so wondrous a visit. 
Here down a dark chasm plunges a sacred path, 
where penetrates the offering of the hungry snake — 
oeware, O maid, of all such paths as this ! — when he 
demands his yearly tribute of food and sends forth 
loud hisses from the depths of earth. Maids that 
are sent down to rites such as this turn pale when 
their hand is rashly trusted in the serpent's mouth. 
He seizes the morsels that the virgin holds toward 
him : even the baskets tremble in the virgin's hands. 
If they have been chaste, they retui'n to embrace 
their parents, and farmers cry : " 'Twill be a fertile 
year." 

15 Hither was my Cynthia drawn by close-clipped 
ponies. She pleaded Juno's woi'ship ; more truly 
had she pleaded rites of Venus. Tell forth, prithee, 
thou Appian Way, what a triumphal journey she 
made before thine eyes, as her wheels whirled madly 
over thy paving-stones, [when a noisy brawl broke 
out in a secret tavern and brought shame on my fair 



315 



SEXTI PROPRRTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

spectaclum ipsa sedens primo temone pependit, 

ausa per inipuros frena movere locos. 
Serica nam taceo vulsi carpenta nepotis ^ 

atque armillatos colla Molossa canes, 
qui dabit immundae venalia fata sasfinae, 

vincet ubi erasas barba pudenda gcnas. 
cum fieret nostro totiens iniuria lecto, 

mutato volui ^ castra movere toro. 
Phyllis Aventinae quaedam est vicina Dianae, 

sobria grata parum : cum bibit, omne decet. 30 
altera Tarpeios est inter Tela luces, 

Candida, sed potae non satis unus erit. 
his ego constitui noctem lenire vocatis, 

et Venere ignota furta novare mea. 
unus erat tribus in secreta lectulus herba. 

quaeris concubitus ? inter utramque fui. 
Lygdamus ad cyathos, vitri(jue -^ aestiva supellex 

et Methymnaei Graeca saliva meri. 
Nile, tiius tibicen erat, crotalistria * Phyllis, 

et facilis spargi munda sine arte rosa, 40 

Magnus et ipse suos breviter concretus in artus 

iactabat truncas ad cava buxa manus. 
sed neque suppletis constubat flanuna lucernis, 

reccidit iiique suos mensa supina pedes. 

^ Serica nam taceo Beroaldus : si riganam tacto A^FL. 
nepotis S" : nr'poti NFL. 

2 mutato S" : mulctato NFL. volui Beroaldus: voliiit 
NFL. 

3 \'\\.v'h\\hi Saalijer : utriiiue.V.- uteniue FL. 

■* crotalistria Turnebus : eboralistria .V; coliatria Z'.- coral- 
is tria L. 

$l6 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

name, though I was not there]. She Avas a sight to 
see as she sat there bending over the pole's end and 
daring to drive amain through rough places. For 
I say naught of the silk-hung chariot of the close- 
shaven fop, nor of the dogs with rich collars about 
their Molossian necks ; some day he will sell his 
doomed body to feed on the foul fare of a gladiator, 
when the beard whereof he is now ashamed shall 
master those close-shaven cheeks. 

2' Since so oft she wronged our bed, I resolved 
to change my couch and pitch my camp elsewhere. 
There is a certain Phyllis, that dwells nigh Diana on 
the Aventine. Sober she pleases me little; when 
she drinks all is charm. Another there is, one Tela, 
that dwells 'twixt the Tarpeian groves ; fair is she, 
but when the wine is on her, one lover will be all too 
few. These two I resolved to summon to make night 
pass less sadly, and to renew my amorous adventures 
with love still strange to me. One little couch there 
was for three on a secret lawn. Dost ask how we 
lay ? I was between the two. Lygdamus had charge 
of our cu})s ; we had a service of glass to suit tlie 
summer with Greek wine that smacked of Methynma. 
Thou, Nile, didst provide us with a piper, while 
Pliyllis played the castanets, and, fair in her artless 
beauty, was right content to be pelted with roses. 
Magnus himself, with short and shrunken limbs, 
clapped his deformed hands to the sound of the 
hollow boxwood flute. But, though their bowls 
were full, the lamp-flames flickered, and the table's 
top fell upside down on the feet that had supported 



317 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

me quoque per talos ^'■enerem quaerente secundos 

semper damnosi subsilucre canes, 
cantabant surdo, nudabant pectora caeco : 

Lanuvii ad portas, ei mihi, solus eram ; 
cum subito rauci sonuerunt cardiue postes, 

et levia ad i)rimos murmura facta Lares. 50 

nee mora^ cum totas resupiiiat Cynthia valvas, 

non operosa comis, sed furibunda decens. 
pocula mi digitos inter cecidcre remissos, 

pallueruntque ipso labra soluta mere, 
fulminat ilia oculis et quantum femina saevit, 

spectaclum capta nee minus urbe fuit. 
Phyllidos iratos in vultum conicit ungues : 

territa vicinas Teia clamat aquas, 
lumina sopitos turbant elata Quirites, 

oninis et insana semita nocte sonat. 60 

illas direptisque comis tunicisque solutis 

excipit obscurae prima tabcrna viae. 
Cyntliia gaudet in exuviis victrixque recurrit 

et mea perversa sauciat era manu, 
imponitque notam collo morsuque cruentat, 

praecipueque oculos, qui meruere, ferit. 
atque ubi iam nostris lassavit bracchia plagis, 

Lygdamus ad plutei fulcra ^ sinistra latens 
eruitur, geniumque meum jirotractus adorat. 

LygdamC; nil potui : tecum ego captus eram. 70 
supplicibus palmis tum demum ad foedera veni,^ 

cum vix tangendos praebuit ilia pedes, 

I fulcra Btroaldui : fusca NFL. 2 veni S": venit NFL. 

318 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

it. And as for nie, while I sought for sixes from the 
favouring dice^ ever the ruinous aces leapt to light. 
They sang to me, but I was deaf. They bared their 
bosoms, but I was blind. Alas ! I stood alone at 
Lanuvium's gates. 

*^ And lo ! of a sudden the door-posts groaned harsh 
with turning hinge, and a light sound was heard at 
the entrance of the house. Straightway Cynthia 
hurled back the folding portals, Cpithia with hair 
disordered, yet lovely in her fury. My fingers loosed 
their grasp and dropped the cup ; my lips turned 
pale though drunken with wine. Her eyes flashed 
fire : she raged with all a woman's fury. The sight 
was fearful as a city's sack. She dashed her angry 
nails in Phyllis' face : Teia calls out in terror on all 
the watery neighbourhood. The brandished lights 
awakened the slumbering citizens, and all the street 
rang loud with the madness of the night. The girls 
fled with dishevelled raiment and tresses torn, and 
the first tavern in the street received them. 

^^ Cynthia rejoiced in her spoils and hastened back 
to me victorious, and bruised my face with cruel hands, 
and marked my neck with her teeth, till lier bite 
drew blood, and above all smote mine eyes that had 
deserved her blows. Then when her arms were tired 
with beating me she routed forth Lygdamus, who 
lay hid on our left crouched beneath the couch's 
head at its very feet. Dragged forth to light, 
he implored protection from my guardian spirit. 
Lygdamus, I was powerless ; I was thy fellow- 
captive. 

'1 At last I yielded to her terms, my hands out- 
stretched in suppliant wise ; but scarce Mould she let 
me so much as touch her feet, and said : " If thou 

319 



SEXTl PR0PP:RTI ELEGIARVM LIRKU IV 
atque ait " Adniissae si vis me ignoscere culjiae, 

accipe, quae nostrae formula legis erit. 
tu neque Pompeia spatiabere cultus in umbra, 

nee cum lascivum sternet harena Forum, 
colla cave inflectas ad summum obliqua tlieatrum, 

aut lectica tuae se det ^ aperta morae. 
Lygdamus in primis, omnis mihi causa qucrclac, 

veneat et pcdibus vincula bina trahat." 80 

indixit legem : respondi ego " Legibus utar." 

riserat imperio facta superba dato. 
dein quemcumque locum externae tetigere puellae, 

suffiit,^ ac pura limina tergit aqua, 
imperat et totas iteruni mutare lacernas, 

terque meum tetigit sulpuris igne caput, 
atque ita mutato per singula pallia Icclo 

respondi, et noto ^ solvimus arma toro. 



TX 

Amphitryoniades qua tempestate iuvencos 

egerat a stabulis, o Erythca, tuis, 
venit ad invictos pecorosa Palatia montes, 

et statuit fessos fessus et ipse boves, 
qua Velabra suo stagnabant flumine quaque * 

nauta per urbanas velificabat aquas. 

1 se det Gruter : sudet NFL. 

2 suliiit Beroaldus, ac Baehrens : sufficat NFL. 

3 respondi NFL, perhaps cormpt: escendi Postgate. noto 
Heinsiua: toto NFL. * quaque T : (imqne NFL. 

320 



The elegies of propeutius book iv 

wouldst have uic pardon the sin thou hast done, hear 
the conditions of the law that I impose. Never 
shalt thou -walk abroad in rich attire iu the shade of 
Pompey's colonnade, nor when the sand is strewn in 
the wanton Forum. ^ Beware that thou bend not 
thy neck awry to gaze at the theatre's topmost ring ; 
let never a litter yield itself uncurtained to thy 
loitering gaze. And above all let Lygdamus^ chief 
cause of my complaint, be sold and trail double 
shackles on his feet." 

81 Such were the terms she imposed. I replied : 
" I accept the terms." She laughed, exulting in the 
dominion I had given her over me. Then she purified 
with fire each place that the foreign girls had touched, 
and cleansed the threshold with pure water ; she bade 
me change all my raiment ane.w, and thrice touched 
my head with burning sulphm-. Then when every 
covering of the bed had been changed, I bowed to her 
will and we made up our quarrel on the couch we 
knew so well. 



IX 

What time Amphitryon's son drove the oxen from 
thy stalls, O Erythea, he came to that hill untamed 
by man, the shee])-grazed Palatine, and there, 
himself aweary, halted his weaxy kine, where the 
Velabrum spread its stagnant stream and the mariner 
sailed over waters in the city's midst. But the kine 

^ I.e., for gladiatorial shows, which were sometimes given 
in the Forum. 



321 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIRER IV 

sed non infido manserunt liospite Caco 

incolumes : furto polluit ille lovem. 
incola Cacus erat, metuendo raptoi' ab aiitro, 

per tria partitos qui dabat ora sonos. 1 

hie, ne eerta forent manifestae signa rapinae, 

aversos eauda traxit in antra boves, 
nee sine teste deo : fureni sonuere iuvenci, 

furis et implacidas diruit ira fores. 
Maenalio iacuit pulsus tria tempora ramo 

Cacus, et Alcides sic ait : " Ite boves, 
Herculis ite bovcs, nostrae labor ultime clavae, 

bis mihi quaesitae, bis mea praeda, boves, 
arvaque mugitu sancite Bovaria longo : 

nobile erit Romae pascua vestra Forum." 20 

dixerat, et sicco torquet sitis ora palato, 

terraque non ullas ^ feta ministrat aquas, 
sed procul incUisas audit ridere puellas, 

lucus ubi ' unibroso fccerat orbe nemus, 
femineae loca clausa deae fontesque piandos, 

impune et nullis sacra retecta viris. 
devia puniceae velabant limina vittae, 

putris odorato luxerat igne casa, 
populus et longis ornabat frondibus aedeni, 

multaquc cantantes umbra tcgebat aves. 30 

hue ruit in siccam congesta pulvere barbam, 

et iacit ante fores verba minora deo : 
" Vos precor, o luci sacro quae luditis antro, 

pandite defessis hospita fana ^ viris. 

1 ullas r : nuUas NFL. ^ ubi Heinsiui : ab NFL 

3 fana Scaliyer : vaua NFL. 

S22 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK iV 

remained not safe, since Cacus proved a disloyal host, 
and outraged Jove with theft. Cacus was a dweller 
in the place, a robber issuing from his dreaded cave, 
who spake with threefold utterance from three 
several mouths. He, that there might be no sure 
token to betray his theft, dragged the cattle tail fore- 
most to his cave. But the god beheld him : the 
lowing steers revealed the thief, and wrath beat 
down the thief's cruel ^ doors. 

^^ Cacus lay low, thi'ice smitten on the brow with 
the Maenalian club, and thus spake Alcides : " Go, 
ye oxen, go, oxen of Hercules, the last labour of my 
club. Twice, oxen, did I seek ye, and twice ye were 
my prey. Go ye and Avith your long-drawn lowing 
hallow the Place of Oxen ; your pasture shall in times 
to come be the far-famed Forum of Rome." He 
spake, and thirst tortured his parched palate, while 
teeming earth supplied no water. 

23 But far off he heard the laughter of cloistered 
maids, where a sacred grove made a dark encircling 
wood, the secret place of the Goddess of Women, ^ 
with holy fountains and rites ne'er revealed to men 
save to their cost. Wreaths of purple veiled its 
portals far-withdrawn and a ruinous hovel shone 
with sweet fire of incense. A poplar decked tlie 
shrine with far-s])read leaves, and its deep foliage 
shielded singing birds. 

3^ Hither he rushed, the dust thick-clotted on his 
parched beard, and before the portal spake wild 
words unworthy of a god. " Ye, that make merry in 
the sacred dells of the grove, I pray you, open youi 
hospitable shrine to a weary man. Athirst for water 

1 Probably because they were decorated with trophies of 
human bones, &c. Cp. Ovid, Fasti, I. 557 ; Vergil, Aeneid, 
VIII. 196. 2 The Bona Dea. 



SEXTI PROPKRTI ET.FXJIAKVM LIBER IV 

fontis cgens crro circaquc sonantia lyniphis, 

et cava susccpto fluniinc palma sat est. 
audistisne ali(|ucin, terjro qui sustiilit orbem ? 

ille ego sum : Alciden terra recepta vocat. 
quis facta Herculeae non audit fortia clavac 

et numquam ad nocuas ^ in-ita tela feras, 40 

atque uni Stygias honiiiii luxisse tenebras ? 

accipite : haec ^ fesso vix iiiihi terra j)atet. 
quodsi lunoni sacrum faceretis amarae, 

lion clausisset a(juas ipsa iioverca suas. 
sill aliquem vultusque mens saetaeque Icoiiis 

terreiit et Libyco sole ])erusta coma, 
idem ego Sidouia feci servilia palla 

officia et Lydo pensa diurna colo, 
mollis et hirsutum cepit mihi fascia pectus, 

et manibus duris apta puella fui." 50 

talibus Alcides ; at talibus alma sacerdos, 

puniceo canas stamiiie viiicta comas : 
" Parce oculis, hos})es, lucoqiie abscede vcrciido 

cede agedum et tuta limiiia liiique fuga. 
interdicta viris inetuenda lege piatur, 

quae se summota vindicat ara casa. 
magiio ^ Tiresias aspexit Pallada vates, 

fortia dum posita Gorgoiie membra lavat. 
di tibi dent alios fontcs : haec lympha puellis 

avia secrcti limitis una fluit." 60 

' nocuiiA >^'antrn : vatas iV; iiatas i^'Z.. 

* accipite r: accipit NFL. liaec /; et N: hie FL. The 
whole line is pcrhaj>s interpolated : compare I. 66. 
3 maguo Passerat : magtiaiu NFL. 

324 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

I wander, while all the place is loud witli the sound 
of streams. Enough for me were a draught of the 
running brook cauglit in the hollow of my hand. 
Have ye heard of one that bore the globe on his 
back ? I am he ; the world I carried calls me 
Alcides. Who has not heard of the mighty deeds of 
Hercules' club, and of those shafts that ne'er were 
spent in vain on ravening beasts ? Who lias not 
heard how for me alone of mortals the darkness of 
Hell ^ was not dark ? Receive me ; this land is all 
but closed to me and I am aweary. Nay, though ye 
were sacrificing to Juno, that is my bane, even my 
stepdame had not closed her waters to me. But if 
some one of you be frighted by my visage and the 
lion's mane and my locks burnt by the Libyan sun, 
I also have performed servile tasks, clad in Sidonian 
cloak, and wrought the day's tale of wool with Lydian 
distaff". My shaggy breast was girt by the soft breast- 
band, and thougii my hands were horny I proved a 
nimble givl." 

^^ Ho spake Alcides; but thus replied the kindly 
l)riestess, her Avhite li/iir bound in a purple band : 
'•' Forbear to gaze, O stranger, and leave this dreaded 
grove. Come, leave it, depart from its threshold 
and seek safety in flight. The altar that guards its 
sanctity in this secret hut is forbidden to men, and 
dire is the doom that avenges its pollution. At great 
cost did the seer Tiresias behold Pallas, while she 
bathed her mighty limbs, the Gorgon breastplate laid 
aside. The gods give thee other fountains ! 'J'his 
one stream flows for maidens only in secret channel 
far from the paths of men." So spake the aged 

1 He broke into Hades to rescue Theseus and carried ofif 
Cerberus. 

»25 



SEXTI PROPKRTI ET.EGIARVM EIl^KR IV 

sic anus : ille umeris postes concussit ojiacos, 

nee tulit iratani ianua clausa sitim. 
at postquani exhausto iam flumine vicerat aestmn, 

jjonit vix siccis tristia iura labris : 
" Angulus hie mundi nune me mea fata tralientem 

accipit : haec fesso vix milii terra patet. 
Maxima quae gregibus devota est Ara rejiertis, 

ara per has " inquit " maxima faeta manus, 
haee nulhs umquam pateat veneranda puellis, 

Herculis aeternum ne sit ^ inulta sitis." 70 

Sancte pater salve, eui iam favet aspera luno : 

Sancte, velis libro dexter inesse meo. 
hunc, quoniam manibus purgatum sanxerat orbem, 

sic Sanctum Tatiae composuere Cures. 



NvNc lovis incipiam causas aperire Feretri 

armaque de ducibus triiia rec'ci)ta tribus. 
magnum iter aseendo, sed dat mihi gloria vires : 

non iuvat e facili lecbi corona iuffo. 
imbuis exemplum primae tu, Romule, palmae 

huius, et exuvio plenus ab hoste redis, 
tempore quo portas Caeninum Acronta iietontem 

victor in eversum cuspide fundis equum. 
Acron Herculeus Caonina ductor ab arce, 

Roma, tuis quondam finibus liorror erat. 10 

^ Herculis aeternum /^Ksman; Herciile exterminium A'/X. 
ne sit r : nascit ^'FL. 

326 



I 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

dame. He with his shoulders shattered the door- 
posts that barred his sights, nor could the closed gate 
endure the fury of his thirst. 

^3 But after he had quenched his burning and 
drained the stream to naughty with lips scarce dry 
he pronounced this stern decree : " This corner of the 
world hath now received me as I drag out my doom : 
weary thoujih I be this land is all but closed to me. 
May that Mightiest of Altars dedicated for the finding 
of my flocks, this altar made Mightiest by mine hands, 
never be open to women's worship, that the thirst of 
Hercules be avenged to all eternity." 

'^ Hail, Holy Sire, on whom now cruel Juno smiles. 
Holy one, I pray thee to take thy place in my book 
with blessing. This hero of old, for that he had 
cleansed the Avorld with his hands and made it holy, 
Tatian Cures established in his temple as the Holy 
one. 

X 

Now will I begin to show forth the origins of Fere- 
trian Jupiter and to tell of the triple spoils of armour ^ 
won from three several chiefs. Great are tlie heights 
I must scale, but glory lends me strength ; crowns 
plucked from easy summits please me not. 

^ Thou, Romulus, first didst win this prize and earnest 
home laden with the spoil of thy foe, what time thou 
didst vanquish Caeninian Acron, as he sought the 
gates of Rome, and with thy spear didst hurl him 
dead upon his fallen steed. Acron, the chieftain 
from Caenina's citadel, sprung froin the seed of Her- 
cules, was once the terror of thy lands, O Rome. 

1 Spoils won by a Roman general from a general of the 
enemy were known as spolia opima. 

3S7 



SEXTl PROPEkTI ELEGIAIIVM LIBER IV 
hie spolia ex umeris ausus sperare Quirini 

ipse dedit, sed non sanguine sicca suo. 
hunc videt ante cavas librantem spicula turres 

Romulus et votis occupat ante ratis : 
" luppiter, haec hodie tibi victima corruet Acron." 

voverat, et spulium corruit ille lovi. 
Vrbis virtutumque ^ partus sic vincere suevit, 

qui tulit a parco frigida castra lare. 
idem eques et frenis, idem fuit aptus aratri*', 

et galea hirsuta compta lupina iuba ; 20 

picta neque inducto fulgebat parma pyropo : 

praebebant caesi baltea lenta boves ; 
necdum ultra Tiberim belli sonus, ultima jjraeda S.^ 

Nomentum et captae iugera tenia ^ Corae. 2fi 

Cossus at insequitur Veientis caede Tohiiuiii, 23 

vincere cum Veios posse labor is erat,^ 24 

heu Vei veteres ! et vos turn regna fuistis^ 

et vestro posita est aurea sella foro : 
nunc inti-a mures j)astoris bucina lenti 

cantat, et in vestris ossibus arva metunt. 30 

forte super portae dux Veius astitit arcom 

colloquiumque sua Iretus ab lu-be dedit : 
dumquc aries murum cornu pulsabat aeiio, 

vinea qua ductum longa tegebat opus^ 
Cossus ait " Forti melius concurrere campo.'' 

nee mora fit, piano sistit uterque gradum. 

^ virtutumque S" : virtutemque i^Z/.- virtutis iV. 

a tenia T : terra NFL. 

3 'J5^ 26 and 22, 24 trantposed by Passerat. 

:j28 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

He dared to hope for spoil from Quirinus' shoulders, 
but himself gave up his own, spoil drip})ing Avith his 
own life-blood. Him Romulus espied, as he poised 
his javelin against the hollow towers, and forestalled 
him with a vow that heaven approved : " Jupiter, 
behold th}^ victim ; to-day shall Acron fall in thine 
honour." The vow was made, and Acron fell to be 
the spoil of Jui)iter. Thus A^■as he wont to conquer, 
the father of Home and the Virtues, who from homes 
of thrift endured the hardships of the camp. The 
knight was ready alike to guide the war-horse or 
the plough ; his helm was of wolf-skin decked with 
shaggy plume, his shield shone not with gaudy inlay 
of golden bronze, and his tough belt was but the 
hide of slaughtered kine. Not yet was the sound 
of war heard beyond Tiber's bank, and Nomentuni 
and the three acres of captured Cora were Rome's 
furthest prey. 

23 Cossus comes next with the slaugliter of Tolum- 
nius, Veii's lord, in the days when even to have power 
for Veii's conquest was a mighty task. Alas ! Veii, 
thou ancient city, thou too wert then a kingdom and 
the throne of gold was set in thy market-place : now 
within thy walls is heard the horn of the idle shep- 
herd, and they reap the cornfields amid thy people's 
bones. It chanced that Veii's chief stood on the 
tower above the gate and parleyed without fear from 
his own city : and while the ram shook the walls 
with brazen horn, where the long mantlet shielded 
the siege-works' line, Cossus cried: "'Twere better 
for the brave to meet in open field." No tarrying 
then, but both stood forth on the level plain. The 



329 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 
di Latias iuvcre maiius, desecta Toluniiii 

cervix Romaiios sanguine lavit cquos. 
Claudius a Rhodano ^ traiectos areuit liostes, 

Belgica cum vasti parma relata duels 40 

\'irdomari. genus hie Rheno iaotabat ab ipso, 

mobilis e rectis ^ fundere gaesa rotis. 
illi virgatis iaculans it ab ^ agmine bracis 

torquis ab incisa decidit unca gula. 
nunc spolia in teni2)lo tria condita : causa Fcvetri, 

online quod certo dux ferit ense duceni ; 
seu quia victa suis umeris haec arma fereliant, 

hinc Feretri dicta est ixra superba Tovis. 



XI 

Desine, Paulle, meum lacrimis urgere sepulcrum : 

pandilur ad nullas ianua nigra preces ; 
cum semel infernas intrarunt i'unera leges, 

non exorato staiit adamante viae, 
te licet orantcni fuscae deus audiat aulae : 

nempe tuas lacrimas litora sui'da bibent. 
vota movent superos : ubi portitor aera recepit, 

obserat umbrosos lurida porta locos.* 
sic maestae cecinere tubae, cum subdita nostrum 

detraheret lecto fax inimica caput. 10 

1 a Rhodano Postfjalc : a Rheno NFL. 

2 e rectis Pasacrat : erect i N: effect i FL. 

3 lit . . . iaculaius it Po.<<.'/"<e •■ iaculantis iV/'Z. 

4 umbrosos r : herbosos A'Z .- erbosos i'. \ocos Markiand: 
rogos NPL. 

330 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

gods aided the Latin's hands^ and Tolumnius' severed 
neck bathed Roman steeds with blood. 

^^ Claudius beat back the foe that had crossed 
from the banks of Rhone, when the Belgic shiekl 
of the giant chief Virdomarus was brought back to 
Rome. He boasted to be sprung from Rhine him- 
self, and nimble was he to hui-1 the Gallic spear from 
unswerving chariot. Even as in striped breeches he 
went forth before his host, the bent torque fell from 
his severed throat. 

*^ These triple spoils are stored in the temple. 
Hence comes Feretrius' name, because with heaven's 
sure favour chief smote ^ chief witli the sword : or else 
the proud altar of Feretrian Jupiter hath won its name 
because the victor bore ^ the araiour of the vanquished 
on his shoulders. 



XI 

Cease, Paullus, to burden my grave with tears : no 
prayers may open the gate of darkness ; when once 
the dead have passed beneath the rule of Hell the 
ways are barred Avith inexorable adamant. Though 
thine entreaty reach the ears of the god that reigns 
in the house of gloom, the shores of Styx shall drink 
thy tears unmoved. Heaven only is won by sup- 
plication : when the ferryman has received his toll, 
the pale portal closes on the world of shadows. Such 
was the burden of the trumpets' strain, when the 
cruel torch was placed beneath my pyre and the 
flames engulfed my head. 

^ The pun on ferire,fero, and Feretrius is iintranslatable. 



$iii 



SEXTI PUOPERTI ELEGIARVM LIUER IV 

quid mihi coniugium Pnulli, quid currus avoruin 

profuit aut funiae pignora tauta iiieae ? 
uon minus iimnites liabuit Cornelia Parcas : 

et sum, quod digitis quinque fegatiir, onus, 
damnatae noctes et vos vada lenta paludes, 

et quaccumque meos implicat unda pedes, 
immatura licet, tamen hue non noxia veni : 

det pater hie umbrae mollia iura meae. 
aut si quis posita iudex sedet Aeacus urna, 

in mea sortita vindicet ossa pila : 20 

assideant fratres, iuxta et Minoida sellani ^ 

Eumcnidum intento turba severa foro. 
Sisyphe, mole vaces ; taceant Ixionis orbes ; 

fallax Tantaleo corripere ^ ore lifjuor ; 
Cerberus et nullas liodie petat imin-obus 
umbras ; 

et iaccat tacita laxa catena sera, 
ipsa loquor j)ro me : si fdlo, j)oena sororum 

infclix umeros urgeat urna meos. 
si cui fama fuit per avita tropaea decgri, 

nostra Numantinos signa ^ loquuntur a vos : SO 

altera maternos exaequal turba Libones, 

et domus est titulis utraque fulta suis, 
mox, ubi iam facibus cessit praetexta maritis, 

vinxit et acceptas altera vitta comas, 

^ mxta. et Itali : iuxta FL. IMinoida r : Minoia i?Z,. sellam 
r : sella et fxv : sella FL. 

2 covnyieve ore Auratus : corripiare /"/,. 

3 nostra . , . sij,'na Bachrens : et . . . regnaZ; aera . . . 
regiia /iw ,• omitted by F. 

832 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

11 What availed ine the wedded love of Paullus ? 
what the triumphal chariot of mine ancestors, or 
tliose that live to bear such witness to their mother's 
gloiy? Cornelia found not therefore the Fates less 
cruel, and lo ! I am now but one little handful of 
dust. Dark night of doom, and ye, O shalloAv, 
stagnant meres, and every stream that winds about 
my feet, guiltless, though untimely, am I come 
hither, and may Father Dis deal gentle judgment 
to my soul. Else, if there be an Aeacus who sits in 
judgment with the urn at his side, let him punish 
my shade when the lot bearing my name is drawn. 
Let the two brothers ^ sit by him, and near the seat of 
Minos let the stern band of Furies stand, while all 
the court is hushed to hear my doom. Sisyphus, be 
thou freed awhile from thy huge stone ! Hushed 
be Ixion's wheel ! And thou, baffling water, be thou 
caught by the lips of Tantalus ! To-day let cruel 
Cerberus attack no shade, let his chain hang slack 
from its silent bar 1 Myself I plead ray cause. If I 
plead falsely, let the woeful urn that is the Danaid 
sisters' doom bow down my shoulders ! 

-^ If ancestral trophies have e'er.A\on glory for any, 
why, then, the statues of my house tell of Numantine ^ 
ancestry, while yonder is gathered a not less glorious 
band, the Libones of my mother's line : on either 
side my house is pillared with glory. Such was my 
birth ; tliereafter when the maid's robe of purple 
was laid aside before the torch of marriage, and a 
new wreath caught up and bound my hair, I was 

1 Jlinos and Rliadaniaiitlius. 

2 Scipio Africaiius. 



338 



SEXTI PllOPERTI ELEGIARVM I.IBER IV 
iungor, I'aulle, tuo sic disccssura cubili : 

in lapide hoc uni nupta fuisse lc<?ar. 
testor maiorum cineres tibi, Utjina, vereiulos, 

sub quorum titulis, Africa^ tuusa iaces, 

.1 
et Persen proavo stimulantem pectus Acliillo, 

quique tuas proavo f regit, Averne,^ doinos, 40 

me neque censurae legem mollisse neque ulla 

labe mca nostros ei-ubuisse focos. 
non fuit cxuviis^tantis Q)rnelia damnum : 

quin et erat magnae pars imitanda domus. 
nee mea mutata est aetas, sine crimine tota 
est : 

viximus insignes inter utramque facem. 
mi natura dedit leges a sanguine ductas, 

ne possem melior iudicis esse metu. 
quaelibet austeras de me ferat urna tabellas : 

turj)ior assessu ^ non crit ulla meo, 50 

vel tu, quae tardam movisti fune Cvbcllen, 

Claudia, turritae rara ministra deae, 
vel cui, iuratos ■* cum Vesta reposceret igncs, 

exhibuit vivos carb asus alba focos. 
nee te, dulce caput, mater Scribonia, laesi : 

in me mutatum quid nisi fata velis ? 

1 ^flnl>•o pointed out that at least a couplet must be lost here : 
he suggested, e.g., et qui contudeniut .iiiiinos piignacis Hiberi, 
Hannibaleinquc armis. Antiochunique suis. 

2 Averne Munro : Achille FL. 

3 assessu r : assensu FL. 

* cut iuratos Butler : cuius rason FL. 

334 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

wedded to thy conchy my Paullus, doomed^ alas ! to 
leave it thus. Behold the legend on this stone : "To 
one and one alone was she espoused." I call to 
witness the ashes of my sires, revered, O Rome, by 
thee ; beneath their glory's record thou, Africa, liest 
beaten to the dust. . . . [/ call the chiefs of Carthage 
and the East^ and Perseus, whose soul was spurred by 
the thought that he came of Achilles' line and of his ^ 
that shattered thy halls, Avernus, to Avitness that the 
censor's ^ ordinance was ne'er relaxed for me and that 
my hearth ne'er blushed for sin of mine. Cornelia ne'er 
dimmed the lustre of such spoils of war ; nay, even in 
that great house she Avas a pattern to be followed. 

^^ My life was changeless ; through all its days it 
knew no slander : 'twixt torch of marriage and torch 
of death ours was a life of high renown. The laws I 
followed sprang from pride of blood : 'twas nature gave 
me them, that no fear of judgment might lead me 
toward virtue. I care not who the judges be that pass 
stern sentence on me ; no woman shall be shamed by 
sitting at my side, not thou, Claudia, the peerless ser- 
vant of the tower-crowned goddess, that didst lay hold 
of the cable and move Cybelle's lagging image, nor 
thou ^ whose white linen robe showed that the hearth 
still lived, Avhen Vesta demanded the fire thou hadst 
sworn to keep. Nor yet in aught have I wronged 
thee, sweet mother mine, Scribonia : what wouldst 
thou have me change save only my doom .'' My 

^ Hercules. See p. 325, note. 

2 Paullus was censor in 22 B.C. 

3 Aeniilia, a Vestal virgin, was accused of having allowed 
the sacred fire of Vesta to be extinguished. She vindicated 
herself by placing a portion of her dress upon the hearth, and 
the fire straightway blazed up. iuratos lit. = "by which she 
had sworn." She swore by the sacred fire that sho would keep 
it alight, 

335 



SEXTI PROPKRTI KI.FXilARVM IJBER IV 
maternis laudor lacriniis urbisqiie cjuerelis, 

(lefensa et geniitu Caesaris ossa mea. miV^ 

ille sua nata dicrnam vixisse sororem 



•» 



increpat, et lacrimas vidimus ire deo. 60 

ct tameu emerui generosos \estis honoves, 

nee mea de stcrili facta ra))ina donio. 
tu^ Lepide, et tu, Paulle, meum post fata levaiiicn ; 

condita sunt vestro lamina nostra sinu. 
vidimus et fratrem sellam geminasse curulcm ; 

cunsule quo, festo ^ tempore rapta soror. 
lilia;, tu specimen ^ censurae nata jjaternae, 

fac teneas unum nos imitata virum. 
et serie fulcite genus : mihi cumba volenti 

solvitur aucturis tot mea facta meis.^ 70 

haee est feminei merces extrema triumph], 

laudat ubi cmeritum libera fiuna rogum. 
nunc tibi commendo comnmniajiignora natos : 

haec cura et cineri spirat inusta meo. 
fungere maternis vicibus, pater : ilia meorum 

omnis erit collo turba fcrenda tuo. 
oscula cum dedei'is tua flentibus, adice malris : 

tota domus coepit nunc onus esse tuum. 
et si quid doliturus eris, sine testibus illis ! 

cum venient, siccis oscu laja lle genis ! 80 

^ festo Koppiera : facto FL. 

2 ppeciineu S" : speciem FL. 

3 fiucturis S" : unctiiris L: uupturis i'. facta S": fatu FL. 
meh Paulmier: maXis FL. 

336 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

mother's tears and the laments of Rome give glory 
to my name and mine ashes are chami)ioned by the 
grief of Caesar. Moaning he cries that in me his 
daughter ^ had a worthy sister^ and we saw that even 
a god may weep. 

^1 Yet well did I merit the robe of honour,^ nor 
childless was the household whence I was snatched 
away. Thou^ I-cjiidus, and thou, Paullus, are my 
comfort even in death ; in your bosom were mine 
eyelids closed. My brother also I saAv twice throned 
in the curule cliair, and 'twas in the very hour of 
rejoicing, when they chose him consul,^ that I his 
sister was rapt awa)'. And thou, my daughter, born 
to be the mirror of thy father's censorship, see thou 
follow mine example and wed one and one only. 
My children, get you children also to be jiillars of 
the house : I grudge not now to put forth in the 
boat of death, since so many of my blood shall 
add fresh lustre to my deeds. This is the supreme 
honour of a woman's triumph, that outspoken rumour 
should praise her dead ashes. 

'^ And now to thee, Paullus, I commend our 
children, the common pledges of our love : this 
care yet lives deep-burned even into mine ashes. 
Father, 'tis thine to fill the mother's room; thy 
neck alone must bear all my children's throng. 
"When thou dost kiss their tears away, add thereto 
their mother's kisses; henceforth the whole house 
must be thy burden. And if tliou must weep at 
all, weep when they are not by ; when they come to 
thee, cheat their kisses with tearless eye. Enough 

1 lulia, Augustus' daughter, was half-sister to Cornelia. 

2 The sfola of honour awarded to the wife that had borre 
three children. 

3 P. Cornelius Scipio, consul 16 B.C. 

Y 337 



SEXTI PROPERTI ELEGIARVM LIBER IV 

sat tibi sint noctes, quas de me, Paulle, fatiges, 

somniaque in faciem credita sacpe incam : 
atque ubi secreto nostra ad simulacra loqucris^ 

lit responsurae singula verba iace. 
seu tamen adversum mutarit ianua lectum, 

sederit at nostro cauta noverca toro^ 
coniugium, pueri^ laudate et ferte paternum : 

capta dabit vestris moribus ilia manus. 
nee matrem laudate nimis : collata priori 

vertet in offensas libera verba suas. 90 

seu memor ille mea contentus manserit umbra 

et tanti cineres duxerit esse meos, 
discite venturam iam nunc sentire senectam, 

caelibis ad curas nee vacet ulla via. 
quod inihi detractum est, vestros acccdat ad annos : 

prole mea Paullum sic iuvet esse senem. 
et bene habet : numquam mater lugubria sumpsi ; ^ 

venit in exsequias tota cater\ a meas. 
causa perorata est. flentcs me surgite, testes, 

dum pretium vitae g^ta rependit Ivumus. 1 00 

moribus et caelum patuit : sim digna merendo, 

cuius honoratis ossa vehantur avis.^ 

^ luguliria sutnpsi S" : liibrigia eumptum N: lubrica sump, 
turn PL. 

2 avis Hcinsiui : aquis AFL. 



338 



THE ELEGIES OF PROPERTIUS BOOK IV 

for theCj Paullus, be the nights tliou weaiest out 
with memories of me, enough the dreams wherein 
so oft thou thinkest to see my very self: and when 
in secret thou shalt speak unto mine image, breathe 
every word as though to one that should reply. 

^^ Yet if another couch ^ shall front the portals of 
our hall, and a wary stepdame usurp my bed, my 
sons, praise and endure your father's spouse ; your 
virtues shall win her heart to yield. Nor praise 
your mother overmuch : she will be angered if in 
unguarded speech ye comjjare her with her that was. 
Or if he forget me not, if my shade sufficeth him 
and he still doth prize mine ashes, learn even now to 
note how old age steals upon him, and leave no path 
for grief to assail his widowed heart. May the years 
that were snatched from me be added to your years ; 
thus may my children's presence sweeten old age 
for Paullus. Aye, and 'tis well : ne'er did I don a 
mother's mourning weeds ; all, all my children came 
to my graveside. 

^^ My pleading is accomplished ; rise, ye my wit- 
nesses that weeji my loss, and Avait Earth's kindly 
sentence that shall give the reward my life hath 
earned. Even heaven hath unbarred its gates to 
virtue ; may my merit Avin its guerdon and mine ashes 
be borne to dwell with my glorious ancestors. 

^ The leclus gcnialis, dedicated to the genii of the married 
pair, was placed in the atrium facing the door. 



S39 



INDEX 



AcANTHis, IV. V. 63. A procuress 

who instructs Cynthia in the "art 

of love." 
Achaea, II. xxviii. 53. 
Acliaemenius, II. xiii. 1. = Per- 
sian. 
Achelous, II. XXXIV. 33. A river 

of Aetoliii whicli contended witli 

Hercules for tlie love of Deianiia. 
AclieroD, III. v. 13. 
Achilles, II. I. 37, III. 39, vill. 29, 

IX. 9, 13, XXII. 29; III. xvill. 

27 ; IV. XI. 39. 
Achivus, II.viii. 31 ; III.xviii. 29. 
Acron, IV. x. 7, 9, 15. King- of 

Caenina. 
Actiacus, II. XV. 44. Actius, II. i. 

34, XVI. 38, xxxiv. 61 ; IV. vi. 

17, 67. Adj. fnim Actium, a bay 

on the coast of Epirus, the scene 

of Augustus' liiial victory over 

Autonius. 
Admetus, II. vr. 23. Husband of 

Alcestis, who died to prolong liis 

life. 
Adonis, II. xili. 53. 
Adrastus, II. xxxiv. 37. Leader 

of the Seven against Thebes. 
Adryas, I. XX. 12. = Dry. as. 
Aeacus, II. xx. 30; III. iv. 20; 

IV. XI. 19. A judge among the 

dead. 
Aeaeus, II. xxxii. 4; III. xii. 31. 

Adj. from Aeaea, the island of 

Circe, or of Calypso. 
Aeg:aeus, I. vi. 2 ; III. vii. 57, 

XXIV. 12. 
Aegyptus, H. i, 31, xxxiii. 16. 
Propertius 



Aelia Galla, III. xii. 1, 4, 15, 19, 
22, 38. A Roman lady, wife 
of Postumus, ])erhaps sister of 
Aclius Galliis, Prefect of Egypt. 

Aemilius, III. iii. 8. A reference 
to Aemilius Paulus, who defeated 
IJenietrius of Pherae iu 219 B.C. 

Aeneas, II. xxxiv. 63; III. iv. 20. 

Aeolius, II. III. 19. A reference 
to the Aeolic school of lyric 
poets, of whom Sappho was pre- 
eminent. 

Aeschyleus, II. xxxiv. 41. 

Aesouldes, I. XV. 17. Aesonius, III, 
XI. 12. Jason, the son of Aeson. 

Agamemnon, IV. vi. 33. 

Agamemiionius, III. vii. 21 ; lY. i. 
111. 

Aganippcus, II. iii. 20. Aganippe, 
the fountain of the Muses on 
Mount Helicon. 

Alba, III. III. 3 ; IV. I. 35, vi. 37. 

Albauus, III. XXII. 25. TheAlban 
Lake. 

Alcidcs, I. XX. 49; IL xxiv. 34; 
IV. IX. 16, 38, 51. Hercules. 

Alcinous, I. XIV. 24. King ol 
Phaeacia ; gave rich gifts to 
Ulysses. 

Alcmaeonius, III. v. 41. Alcmaeon 
slew his mother, Eriphyla, and 
was pursued by Furies. 

Alcmene, II. xxii. 25. Mother oI 
Hercules. 

Ales (Amor), II. xxx. 31. 

Alexandria, III. xi. 33. 

Alexis, II. xxxiv. 73. A Vergilian 
sheplierd. 

31J 



INDEX 



Alpliesiboea, I. xv. 18. Wife of 
Alciuaeon. Alcinaoon left her 
for Callirrhoe, but on rcliiruing' 
lioLuo to Arcadia -nas killed by 
Ali)liesiboea. She avcu'.'cd her 
faithless husband by killings her 
brothers. 

Aniazouis, III. xiv. 13. 

Amor, I.I. 4, 17, 34, il. 8, ill. 14, 

V. 24, VII. 20, 26, IX. 12, 23, 28, 
X. 20, XII. 16, XIV. 8, 15, XVII. 
27, XIX. 22 ; II. II. 2, III. 24, 

VI. 22, VIII. 40, X. 26, Xll. 1, 
XIII. 2, XXIX. 18, XXX. 2, 7, 24, 
XXXIII. 42, X.XXlV. 1 ; in. I. 11, 
V. 1, XVI. 16, XX. 17, XXIII. IC. 

Ainphiaraus, in. xiii. 58. Aiiiiilii- 
arous (adj.), II. xxxiv. 39. Am- 
l)hi.iraus, one of the Seven auainst 
Thebes, was swallowed uj) with 
lii.s chariot in a chasm. 

Auiphion, III. xv. 29, 42. Amphio- 
uius, I. X. 10. Son of Autiopa. 
With his lyre lie caused stones 
to gatlier themselves together 
and form the walls of Thebes. 

Ami)hitryoniades, IV. ix. 1. Her- 
cules. 

Amycle, IV. v. SO. A slave of 
Cyntliia. 

Amymone, II. xxvi. 47. Dangliter 
of Danaus ; yielded lierself to 
Poseidon, on condition of his 
causing- a spring to burst forth in 
time of drought. 

Aniythaonius, II. iii. T>1. Amy- 
ihaoii, f atlier of Melampus (rj.r.). 

Androgeon, II. i. G2. Son of 
Minos, killed In .\tiica, and, ac- 
coKiing to Propenius, restored 
to life by Agck'i)ius, the god of 
healing, whose cliief teuijile was 
at Kpidauru.s. 

Andromacha, II. xx. 2, xxii. 31. 

Andromede, I. in. 4; II. xxviii. 
21 ; III. XXII. 29 : IV. VII. 03. 

Anienns, I. xx. 8 ; III. xvi. 4 : IV. 

VII. 86; Anio, ill. xxii. 23; 

S42 



IV. VII. 81. The river on which 

Tibur stands. 

Antaeus, III. xxii. 10. A Libyan 
giant slain by Hercules. 

Antigone, II. viii. 21. 

AntilochuB, II. xiii. 49. The son 
of Xestor, killed during the siege 
of Troy. 

Antimachus, II. xxxi v. 45. A poet 
of Colophon ; wrote an epic on the 
Seven against Thebes and love 
elegies in memory of his mistress 
Lyde. 

Autinous, IV. V. 8. The leader of 
Penelope's suitors. 

Antiope, I. iv. 5; III. xv. 12, 19, 
22, 39. Daugliter of N'yctcusand 
wife of Lycus, iving of Thebes. 
Lycus put her away .iiid married 
Dirce. Dirce tormented Antiope, 
who took refuge on the moun- 
tains witli Amidiiou and Zcthus, 
sons whom she in earlier years 
had borne to Jui)iter. 

Antoiiius (M.), III. ix. 56. 

Anubis, III. xi. 41. A dog-headed 
god of Egypt. 

Aonius, I. II. 28; III. iii. 42. 
Aonia was a district of Boeotia 
round Mount Helicon. 

Apelles, III. IX. 11. Apelleus, I. 
II. 22. A famous Greek paintei-, 
fourth century B.C. 

Aiiiilanus, I. m, 8. A river of 
'iliessaly. 

Apollo, I. VIII. 41 ; II. I. 3 ; III. 
II. 9, IX. 39, XI. 69 ; IV. I. 7.1,133, 
VI. 11, 69. 

Ajipirt, Via, If. XXXII. 6 ; IV. viii. 
17. The "Great South Itoad" of 
Kome. 

Ai)iilis, IV. V. 35. The Kalends of 
April were specially associated 
with courtesans, who on I hat d.iy 
sacriliced to Venus and Fortuna 
virilis. 

Aquilo, II. V. 11 ; III. vil. 13, 71. 

Aqullonius, I. xx. 26. 



INDEX 



Ara Maxima, IV. ix. 67. An altar 
situated in the Forum Boarium. 

Arabia, II. x. 16. Augustus sent 
an army under Aelius Gallus to 
invade Arabia in 2-1 B.C. The 
expedition was a failure. 

Arabius, I. xiv. 19 ; II. iir. 15. 

Arabs, II. xxix. 17 ; III. xiii. 8. 

Aracynthus, III. xv. 12. Part of 
the Cithaeron range, on the 
borders of Attica and Boeotia. 

Araxes, III. xii. 8 ; IV. m. 35. A 
river of Armenia flowing into 
the Caspian. 

Arcadius, I. i. 14, xviii. 20 ; II. 
xxvni. 23. The Arcadian god 
is Pan. 

Archemorus, II. xxxiv. 38. Infant 
son of Eurydice and Lycurgus, 
King of Ncinea ; was killed by a 
serpent duriug the absence of 
his nurse Hypsipyle, who had 
gone to point out a spring to the 
Seven against Thebes. Funeral 
games were celebrated in his 
honour, from which sprang the 
Nemean games. 

Archytas, IV. i. 77. The famous 
mathematician of Tarentum. 
Floruit fourth century B.C. 

Aretos, II. xxii. 25. 

Arcthusa, IV. iii. 1. Pseudonym 
of a Roman lady, perhaps Aelia 
Galla. 

Arganthus, I. xx. 33. A mountain 
in Mysia. 

Arg^eus, III. xxii. 13. Adj. from 
Argus, the steersman of the Argo. 

Argivus, I. XV. 22, xix. 14; 11. 
XXV. 43. 

Argus, I. III. 20. The many-eyed 
guardian of lo. 

Argus, I. XX. 17; II. xxvi. 39. See 
Argeus. 

Argynnus, III. vii. 22. A youth 
beloved by Agamemnon, and 
drowned. 

Ariadna, II. nr. 1 8 ; III. xvii. 8. 



Arion, II. xxxiv. 37. The horse 
of Adrastus, gifted with human 
speech. 

Arionius, II. xxvr. 18. Adj. from 
Arion, the musician. 

Armenius, I. ix. 19. 

Arria, IV. I. 89. A friend or kins- 
woman of Propertius. Perhaps 
the mother of the Gallus of I. 

XX. 

Artacius, I. viii. 25. Adj. from 

Artacia, a mythical fountain in 

the land of the Laesti ygones. 
Ascanius, I. xx. 4, 16. A river in 

Mysia. 
Ascraeus, II. x. 25, xiii. 4, xxxiv. 

77. Ascra, in Bneotia, was the 

birthplace of Hesiod. 
Asia, I. VI. 14 ; II. iir. 36. 
Asia, IV. I. 65, 125. Assisi, or the 

hill on which Assisi stands. 
Asopus, III. XV. 27. A river in 

Boeotia. 
Athaman, IV. VI. 15. The Atlia- 

manes were a people of Fpirns. 
Athamantis, I. xx. 19 ; III. xxii. 5. 

Ilelle, daughter of Atliauias. 
Atheuae, I. vi. 13 ; III. xxi. 1. 
Atlas, III. XXII. 7. 
Atrida, II. xiv. 1. Atrides, III. 

Vir. 23; xvni. 30; IV. i. 112. 

Agamemnfin. 
Attalicus, II. XIII. 22, XXXII. 12 ; 

III. XVIII. 19 ; IV. V. 24. Atta- 

lus, King of Pergamum, was said 

to have invented cloth-of -gold. 
Atticus, II. XX. 6. 
Augustus, II. X. 15 ; III. xi. 50, 

XII. 2 ; IV. VI. 22, 29, 38, 81. 
Aulis, IV. I. 109. 
Aurora, II. xviii. 7 ; III. xiii. 

16. 
Ausonius, I. xx. 12 ; II. xxxiii. 4 

III. IV. 5, XXII. 30 ; IV. IV. 43. 

Italian. 
Auster, II. xvi. 56, xxvr. 56. 
Aventinus, IV. i. 50, viii. 39. 
Avernalis, IV. i. 49. 

343 



INDEX 



Areruus, III. xviii. 1 ; IV. xi. 4U. 
A lake north of Naples, reputed 
to be the yate of Hmlus, aud of teu 
synonymous with Hadee. 

Babvi.on, III. XI. 21. 

Baljylonius, IV. i. 77. 

IJacclia, III. XXII. 33. 

Bacchus, I. iii.O; II. xxx. 38 ; III. 

II. 9, XVII. 1, 6, 13, 20 ; IV. l. 62, 

VI. 76. 
Bactra, III. i. 16, xi. 26; IV. iii. 

7, 63. A town in Persia, the 

modern Balkli. 
Baiae, I. xi. 1, 27, 30; III. xviii. 

2. Baia, a watering- place at the 

north of tlie Bay of Naples. 
Bassaricus, III. xvii. 30. Adj. 

from Bassareus, a name of 

Bacchus. 
Bassiis, I. IV. 1, 12. A friend of 

Propertius aud writer of iambi. 
Belgicus, II. XVII r. 26 ; IV. x. 

40. 
Bellerophonteus, III. iii. 2. The 

horse of Bellerophon is Pegasus, 

a blow friim whuse hocif called 

forth the spring' Jlippucrcue. 
Bistoiiius, II. xxx. 36. Tlie Bis- 

tuucs were a people of Thrace. 
Boebeis, II. ii. 11. A Thessalian 

lake. 
Boeotius, II. VIII. 21. 
Bootes, III. V. 3."). The star Arc- 

tiirus. 
Boreas, II. xxvi. 51, xxvii. 12. 
Borysthenidae, II. vii. 18. Dwellers 

on the Borysthones, the modern 

Dnieper. 
Bosporus, III. XI. 68. The town of 

Panticapaeuni, in the Crimea, 

where Jlithridates committed 

suicide. 
Bovaria, IV. ix. 19. The cattle 

market at Rome, more commonly 

culled Biiarium. 
Boviliae, IV. i. 83. A small town 

near Kome. 



Brcnnus, III. xiii. 51. Leader of 

the Gauls who attacked Delphi 

in 2 78 B.C. 
Briiuo, II. II. 12. Hecate. 
Bri.-.eis, II. vill. 3D, ix. 9, XX. 1, 

XXII. 29. 
l?rit:innia, IV. III. 9. 
I'.rilaunus, 11. I. 76, XMii. 23, 

XXVII. 5. 

Brutus, \\. I. 4 5. 

CACU.S, IV. IX. 7, 9, 16. A robber 
liviiis: on tlie Aventinc, aud slain 
by Hercules for stealing his 
cattle. 

Cadmeus, I. vii. 1 ; III. xiii. 7. 

Cadmus, III. ix. 38. The founder 
of Thebes. 

Caeiiiuus, IV. x. 7, 9. Caenina was 
a small towu in Latiiim whith 
went to war with Kome on 
account of the rape of the Sabiue 
women. 

Caesar (Augustus), I. xxi. 7 ; II. i. 
2.5, 26, 42, VII. 5, XVI. 41,XXX1.2, 
xxxiv. 62 ; III. IT. 1, 13, IX. 27, 
33, XI. 6G, 72, XVIII. 12 ; IV. I. 
46, VI. 13, 56, XI. 5S. 

Caesar (Julius), III. xviii. 34; IV. 
VI. 59. 

Calais, I. xx. 26. A winged son of 
Boreas. 

Calamis, III. ix. 10. A sculptor of 
the lifth century B.C., particularly 
famous as a sculptor of horses. 

Calclias, IV. i. Iu9. The prophet 
of the Greek army who decreed 
the sacrifice of Iphigeneia at 
Aulis. 

Callimachus, II. I. 40, xxxiv. 82; 
III. 1. 1, IX._43; IV. I. 64. 

Calliope, II. I.":!; III. m. m; \\, 
VI. 12. CalUopea, I. ii. 38 ; IIV. 
II. 16, III. 3S. 

Callisto, II. xxMii. 23. A nymph 
of Arcadia transformed into the 
constellation of the Little Bear. 

Caipe, III. XII. 25. Gibraltar. 



INDEX 



Calvus, II. XXV. 4, XXXIV. 89. 

G. Lkiuius Calvus, tlie fiieucl of 
Catullus, a poot of the learned 
Alexaudi'ian school. 

Calypso, I. XV. 9 ; II. xxi. 13. 

Cambyses, II. xxvi. 23. King- of 
Persia, conqueror of Egypt. 

Camena, III. x. 1. 

Camillus, III. ix. 31, xi. 67. The 
conqueror of the Gauls after the 
sack of Rome. 

Campania, III. v. 5. 

Campus (Martins), II. xvi. 34. 

CanciT, IV. I. 150. 

Canis, II. xxvm. 4. 

Cauucusis, III. in. 10. 

Canopus, III. xi. 39. A luxurious 
town in Eyypt some twelve miles 
from Alexaudria. 

Capaneus, II. xxxiv. 40. Capa- 
uens, one of the Seven against 
Thebes, boasted that he would 
sack Thebes in despite of Jove. 
Jove therefore blasted him with 
his thunderbolt. 

Capeua (Porta), IV. iii. 71. The 
gate tlirough which the Via 
Appia entered Rome, the natural 
gate for the entry of one who, 
like Lycotas, had been campaign- 
ing in the East, and would return 
by Brundisium or Naples. 

Caphareus, III. vii. 39. A head- 
land of Euboea on which Naup- 
lius burned false beacons, thereby 
causing the Greek fleet returning- 
from Troy to be wrecked. He 
did this to avenge the death 
of his son, Palamedes, put to 
death on a false charg:e by the 
Greeks. 

Capitolia, IV. iv. 27. 

Capricornus, IV. i. 86. 

Carpathius, II. v. 11 ; III. vii. 12. 
The southern portion of the 
Aegean, Carpathus being an 
island between Crete and Rhodes. 

Carthago, II. i. 23. 



Cassiope, I. xvii. 3. A port in the 

north of Corey ra. 
Castalius, III. in. 13. The Casta- 

lian spring- was on Parnassus, 

though in this poem the sceue is 

laid on Helicon. 
Castor, I. II. 1.5 : II. VII. 16, xxvi. 

9 ; III. XIV. 17. 
Catullus, II. XXV. 4, xxxiv. 87. 
Caucasius, II. r. 69, xxv. 14. 
Caucasus, I. xiv. 6. 
Cayster, III. xxii. 15. A river of 

Asia Minor on which Ephesus is 

situated. 
Cecropius, II. xx. 6, xxxiii. 29. 

Athenian ; from Cecrops, an 

ancient King of Attica. 
Centauricus, IV. vi. 49. 
Ceutaurus, II. ii. 10, vi. 17,xxxiii. 

31. 
Cephelus, I. in. 3. Cei)hcu.«, IV, 

VI. 78. Adj. from Cepheus, the 

father of Andromeda. 
Cerauuia, I. vni. 19. Cerauuus, II. 

xvi. 3. Ceraunia, or Acroce- 

raunia, was a (hiugerous headland 

in Epirus, 
Cerberus, III. v. 44 ; IV. v. 3, vil. 

90, XI. 25. 
Chaonius, I. ix. 5. The Chnones 

were a tribe of Epirus dwelling 

near Dodona. Here = Dodonean. 
Charybdis, II. xxvi. 54 ; III. xii.28. 
Chiron, II. i. 60. A centaur, son of 

Jupiter and Phillyra. 
Chius, III. VII. 49. 
Chloris, IV. VII. 72. Slistress of 

Propertius after Cynthia's death. 
Cicoues, III. XII. 25. A Thracian 

tribe defeated by Ulyssss (Ocl. 

IX. 40). 
Cilissa, IV. vi. 74. 
Cimbri, II. i. 24. A Germanic tribe 

defeated by Marius. 
Cinara, IV. i. 99. A friend or 

relative of Propertius. 
Circaeus, II. i. 63. 
Circe, III. xii. 27. 

345 



INDEX 



Clthaeron, III. it. R, xv. 25. A 
mountain bt'twocn Attica and 
Boeotia. 

Claudia, IV. xi. 52. Clamlia 
Quiiita, when tlie ni.v.stciics of 
Cybele were intniduceil into 
Rome (205 B.C.), and tlie ship 
ljcarin<; the iinafjp, &c., stuck on 
a shoal in the Tiber, pulled it 
ofE single-handed, and thereby 
cle:irvd herself of tlie suspicion 
of unchastity. 

Claudius (M. Marcellus Maior), III. 
XVIII. 33 ; IV. X 30. The con- 
queror of Syracuse in tlic second 
Punic war, and ancestor of the 
" young Mircellus." >'ee also 
Virdomarus. 

Clitumnus, II. xix. 25; III. xxii. 
23. A river of Umbria. 

Clytemestra, III. xix. ifl. 

Codes (Iloratiusj, III. xi. 03. 

Coeus, III. IX. 48. A giant. 

Colchis, II. I. 54, XXI. 11, XXXIV. 8 ; 

III. XI. 9. The home of Jledea, 
east of the Black Sea. 

Colchns, III. XXII. 11. 

CoUimis, IV. V. 11. Xcar the Colline 
g^ite w:i8 the campus sceliiutiis, 
where Vestal virgins unfaith- 
ful to their vows were buried 
alive. 

Conon, IV. l. 78. A Greek astro- 
nomer of Samos (flor. 250 B.C.). 

Corn, IV. X. 26. An ancient town 
of the Volsci. 

Corinna, II. iii. 21. A famous 
Boeolian i)oetcss, contemporary 
with riiular. 

Corintlius, III. v. 6. 

Cornelia, IV. xi. 18, 48. The 
dauLjliter of Cornelius Scipio 
and Scribonin, and the wife of 
L. Aemiliiis Taullus. 

Cory fl on, II. xxxiv. 73. A Ver- 
i:ilian shepherd. 

Cossus (Aulus Cornelius Cossua), 

IV. X. 23, 30, Consul 428 B.C. 

846 



Cous, I. II. 2 ; II. I. 5, 6 ; III. I. 1 ; 
IV. II. 23, V. 23, 56. 57. 

Crnssus, II. X. 14; III. iv. 9, v. 
48 ; IV. VI. 83. 

Craut;is, IV. iii. 55. A dog, so 
called from the Greek (cpouy^, 
" bayin;^." 

Cressus, II. i. 61; IV. vii. 57. 
Crissae herhae probably refers 
to the niiracnloiis herb called 
dictomnus. 

Cretaeus, III. xix. 11, 26. 

Crcusa, II. xvi. 30, xxi. 12. 
Daughter of Creon, King of 
Coiinth. Jason deserted Medea 
to marry her. Medea took her 
revenge by sending Creufa a 
poisoned robe which consumed 
Creusa and Creon with fire. 

Croesus, II. XXVI. 23 ; III. v. 17, 
xviii. 28. 

Cumacus, II. ir. 16. The Sibyl of 
Cuniae (north of Bay of Naples) 
was rei)uted to be fabulously old. 

Cupido, II. xviii. 21. 

Cures, IV. ix. 74. The ancient 
cai)ital of the Sabines. 

Curctis. IV. IV. 9. Adj. from Cures. 
See above. 

Curia, IV. i. 11, iv. 13. 

Curius. III. III. 7. The Curiatii 
who fought against the llor.atii. 

Curlius, III. XI. 61. Curtius threw 
hinii-clf into a chasm in the 
Forum 360 n c, thereby causing 
it to be miraculonsiy closed. 

Cybele, Cybelle, III. xvii. 35, xxii. 
3; IV.VII. 61, XI. 51. 

Cydonium, III. xiii. 27. A quince, 
from Cydonia, the modern Canea, 
in Crete. 

Cymothoe, II. xxvr. 16. A Nereid. 

Cynthia. I. l. 1, III. 8, 22, iv. 8, 

19, 25, v. 31, VI. 16, VIII. 8, 30, 
42, X. 19, XI. 1, 8, 23, 26, XII. 6, 

20, XV. 2, 26, XVII. 5, XVIII. 5, 6, 
22, 31, XIX. 1, 15, 21 ; II. v. 1, 4, 
28, 30, VI. 40, VII. 1, 19, XIII. 7, 



INDEX 



67, XVI. 1, 11, XIX. 1, 7, XXIV. 2, 

5, XXIX. 24, XXX. 25, XXXII. 3, 8, 

XXXIII. 2, XXXIV. 93 ; III. xxi. 

9, XXIV. 3, XXV. 6 ; IV. VII. 3, 

85, VIII. 15, 51, 53. 
Cynthius, II. xxxiv. 80. Apollo. 
Cyreuaeus, IV. vi. 4. Adj. from 

Cyrenc, the birthplace of Calli- 

machus. 
Cytaeine, I. i. 24. Cytaeis, II. iv. 

7. A woman of Cy ta, in Colchis — 

t'.e., Mcdca. 
Cytherea, II. xiv. 25. 
Cyzicus, III. XXII. 1. A town on 

the south coast of the Propontis. 

Daedalius, II. XIV. 8. Adj. from 
Daedalus, the builder of the 
Labyrinth. 

Danae, II. xx. 10, 12, xxxii. 
59. 

Danaus, II. xxxi. 4. The brother 
of Aeg-yptus, father of fifty 
daughters who, with the excep- 
tion of Hypermncstra, murdered 
their husbands at their father's 
command. 

Danaus (adj.), II. xxvi. 38 ; III. 
VIII. 31, IX. 40, XI. 14, XXII. 34 ; 
IV. I. 53, 113. 

Daphnis, II. xxxiv. 68. A Ver- 
gilian shepherd. 

Dardanius, II. xiv. 1. Dardaniis, I. 
XIX. 14 ; IV. I. 40. 

Decius, III. XI. 62 ; IV. I. 45. 
Three Dccii, father, son, and 
grandson, generals of Eoman 
armies, sacrificed their lives to 
win success for their country 
(336, 296, 279 B.C. respectively). 

Deidamia, II. ix. 16. Daughter 
of Lycomedes, King" of Scyros, 
beloved of Achilles, to whom she 
bore Neoptokmus. 

Deiphobus, III. i. 29. A son of 
Priam. 

Delos, IV. VI. 27. Delos was once 
a floating island, but after the 



birth of Diana and Apollo upon 
it it became fixed. 

Demophoon, II. xxii. 2, 13. The 
pseudonym of a friend of Pro- 
pertius, perhaps the poet Tuscus, 
wlio was called Demophoon be- 
cause his mistress was called 
Phyllis. See beloiu. 

Demoplioon, II. xxiv. 44. Demo- 
phoon, son of Theseus, loved 
Phyllis, daughter of Sithon, 
King of Thrace. He deserted 
her and she killed lierself. 

Demosthenes, III. xxi. 27. 

Deucalion, II. xxxii. 53, 54. Deu- 
calion and his wife Pyrrha Wfre 
the sole survivors of the Greek 
" Deluge." 

Dia, III. xvii. 27. Naxos. 

Diana, II. xix. 17, xxviii. 60 ; IV. 
viii. 29. 

Dindymis, III. xxii. 3. Cybele, so 
called because she had a famous 
shrine on Mount Dindymus near 
Cyzicus. 

Dircaeus, III. xvii. 33. Adj. from 
Dirce, a fountain near Thebes. 

Dirce, III. xv. 11, 28, 39. See 
Antiope. 

Dis, III. XXII. 4. 

Dodona, II. xxi. 3. A place iu 
Epii'us famous for its oracle. 

Doricus, II. VIII. 32 ; IV. vi. 34. 

Doris, I. XVII. 25. A sea-goddess. 

Dorozantes, IV. v. 21. 

Dorus, III. IX. 44. The "Dorian 
poet " is Philetas. 

Dryades, I. xx. 45. 

Dulichia, II. xiv. 4. An island oft 
the west coast of Greece, often 
treated by Latin poets as the 
liome of Ulysses. 

Dulichius, II. II. 7, xxi. 13 ; III. 
v. 17. 

Edonis, I. III. 5. A woman of the 

Edoni, a Thracian tribe. 
Electra, II. xiv. 5. 

347 



INDEX 



Eleus, III. II. 20, IX. 17. Elis, 1. 
VIII. 30. Ol^-mpia wa.s in Klis, 
hence tbe f rcqiieut luciit ion of Elis 
in coiuicctiou with (1) r;i''elior.>ies, 
(2) Jupiter. Hce rhiiliacus. 
Elysius, IV. VII. 60. 

Eneeladiis, II. I. 39. A <j':ant. 

Endymion, II. xv. 15. 

Kuipeus, I. XIII. 21 ; III. xix. 13. 
A river of Thissaly. I'cs-.'idon 
assumed tl;o shape of the river- 
yod when he ravished Tyro, 
daughter of Salmoueiis. 

Ennius, III. in. 6; IV. I. 61. 
Tlie father of Komau poetry ; 
nourished in the second century 
li.C. His chief work was tliu 
Annales, an ei)ie poem on the 
history of Rome. 

Eons, I. XV. 7, XVI. 24 ; II. in. 4 3, 
14, xviii. 8 ; III. XIII. IS, XXIV. 
7, 8, III. 10, v. 21, VI. 81. 

E])hyieus, II. VI. 1. Adj. from 
Ephyra, an ancient name of 
Coriiitli. 

Epicurus, III. xxi. 26. 

Epidauiius, II. I. CI. The Epi- 
daurian <;od is Asclepius, whose 
cliief temple was at Epidaurus, 
in the reloponucse. 

Erechtheus, II. xxxiv. 29. Adj. 
from Ercchtheus, an ancient 
King of Athens. Here = Athe- 
nian. Tlie allusion is to 
Aescliylus. 

Erichthouius, II. vi. 4. Adj. fruiii 
Erichthonius, an ancient Iving-of 
Athens. Uere = Atlieniau. 

Eridanus, I. xii. 4. The Po. 

Erinna, II. in. 22. A Les- 
bian poetess contemporary with 
Sapplio. 

Erinys, II. xx. 29. 

Eriphyla, II. xvi. 29 ; III. xiii. 
57. Eriphyla, wife of Amphia- 
raus, was bribed by Polyuices 
with the gift of a golden neck- 
lace to persuade her husband to 

34S 



join the Seven against Theho^ 

ilo consented, though he knew be 

should never return. 
Erycinus, III. xiii. C. Adj. from 

Eryx, a Sicilian town famous 

fur its shrine of Venus. The 

nautilus was known as conclui 

I'enerea, and is here called 

concha Enjcina. 
Erythea, IV. ix. 2. A mythical 

island in the far west, the honiu 

of Geryoncs. 
Erythra, II. xiii. 1. A mythical 

kina:of the East. 
E^quiliae, III. xxiii. 24 ; IV. 

vin. 1. One of the seven hills 

of Home. 
Etruscus, I. XXI. 2, 10, xxii. C ; II. 

I. 29; III. IX. 1. 
Euboicus, II. XXVI. 38 ; IN', i. 1 14. 
Eumenides, IV. xi. 22. 
Euphrates, II. x. 13, xxin. 21; 

III. IV. 4, XI. 26; IV. vi. 84. 
Europa, II. iii. 8G. 
Europe, II. xxviii. 52. Daughter 

of Agenor and sister of Cadmus ; 

loved by Jupiter in the form of 

a bull. 
Eurotas, III. xiv. 17. The river 

of Sparta. 
Eiuus, II. XXVI. 30; III. v. 3u ; 

XV. 32. 
Etiiymedou, III. ix. 48. A giant. 
Eurypylus, IV. v. 23. A king of 

Cos. Eurtjpyli ttxhira ~ Coan 

silks. 
Eurytion, II. xxxm. 31. A cen- 
taur slain at the wedding of 

I'irithous. 
Evadne, I. xv. 21 ; III. xnt. 24. 

Evadne, the wife of Capaneus, 

flung herself upon her hu.>;band's 

jiyre. 
Evaiider, IV. i. 4. Evander, an 

exiled Arcadian king, dwell on 

the site of what was afterwards 

Itrnue. i'ee Vergil, Ann. viii. 

333. 



INDEX 



Eveuus, I. II. 18. Tho father of 
Marpessa. Sec Idas. 

Fabius (Q. Maximus), III. ill. 9. 
Tlic celebrated general of tlic 
second Piiiiic war, known as 
Ciinctator (" Delayer "; from his 
tactics. 

Fabius, IV. I. 2G. Tlie Lnperci, 
priests of Pan, were divided into 
two collcs'cs, the Faliii and llie 
Quintilii. 

Falcrnns, II. xxxiii.SO ; IV. vi. 73. 
A district in Camjmnia famous 
for its wine. 

Fama, II. xxxiv. 91; III. i. 9, 

XXII. 2. 
Fcrctrius, IV. X. 1, i:<, 48. A title 

of Jupiter. 
Fidenac, IV. l. 36. A town of 

Latium, near Rome. 
Fornin, IV. I. 131, ll. 6, iv. 12, 

vin. 7.1, IX. 20. 

Gauii, IV. I. 31. A town of 
Latium, not far from Rome. 

Galaesus, II. sxxiv. 6 7. A river 
near Tarcntuui. 

Galatea, I. viii. 18 ; III. ii. 7. 
A sea-g'oddess. 

Galla. See Aelia. 

Gain, II. XXXI. 13. 

Gallicus, II. xiii. 48. If the read- 
ing- be correct here, Gallicus 
must mean Phrygian, and be an 
adjective from Gallus, a river 
of Plirygia. 

Gallus, I. V. 31, X. 5, xiii. 2, 4, 16, 
XX. 1, 14, 51. A friend of Pro- 
pcrtius, perhaps Aelius Gallus, 
Prefect of Egypt. 

Gallus, I. XXI. 7. A soldier killed 
in the Pernsine war. Perhaps a 
kinsman of Propertius. 

Galhis, IV. I. 95. The sou of Arria, 
killed in battle. Possibly identi- 
cal with the foregoing. 

Gallus (G. Cornelius), II. xxxit. 



91. The first Prefect of Egypt. 
Incurred Augustus' displeasure 
thi'oug'h his arrogance aud com- 
mitted suicide. He was the first 
of Rome's great elegiac poets. 
He wrote in honour of his mis- 
tress Lyeoris. 

Gcryones, III. xxii. 9. A monster 
killed by Hercules, who carried 
off his oxen. 

Geta, IV. III. 9, V. 44. The Getac 
were a tribe of Scythia. In the 
latter pas.sage the reference is to 
the Scythia?! slaves, who acted 
as police at Athens. 

Gigantes, III. v. 39. 

Gigauteus, I. xx. 9. The ora 
Gujantea is the Phlegrean plain 
immediately north of Naples. 

Glaucus, II. XXVI. 13. A sea-god. 

Gnosius, I. III. 2 ; II. xii. 10. 
Adj. from Gnosus (Unossus), in 
Crete. 

Gorgon, II. ii. 8, xxv. 13 ; IV. ix. 
58. 

G.irjjoneus, III. iii. 32. Pegasus, 
the winged horse of Perseus, 
sprang from the Gorgon's blood. 
It was a blow from his hoof 
which called forth Hippocrene, 
which is therefore called the 
" Gorgon's spring." 

Graeeia, II. vi. 2, ix. 17 ; III. vii. 
40 ; IV. I. 116. 

Graccus, IV. viil. 38. 

Grains, II. VI. 19,xxxii. 61, xxxiv. 
65; III. I. 4, VIII. 29, IX. 41, 
XXII. 87. 

Gygaeus, III. xi. 18. A Lydiau 
lake near Sardis. 

HaDRIA, I. VI. 1. 

Hadriacns, III. xxi. 17. 

Haedus, II. xxvi. 56. 

Haemon, II. viii. 21. The sou of 
Creon, betrothed to Antigone, 
committed suicide after her 
death. 

o49 



INDEX 



HHcmouiuft, 1. XIII. 21, XV. 20; 

II. I. 63, VIII. 3S, X. 2 ; 111. I. 
26. Thes.-:ali;u), from a certain 
Haemou, sou of Pelasgus and 
father of Tlicssalus. 

Hainatiryados, I. xx. 32 ; II. xxxii. 
87, xxxiv. 76. 

Hannibal, III. in. 11, xi. 69. 

Ilebe, I. XIII. 28. The goddess of 
youth ; became the bride of Her- 
cules when lie became a god. 

Hector, II. viii. 3,S, xxii. 31, 34; 

III. I. 28, VIII. 31. 
Hectoreus, II. viii. 32 ; IV. vi. 88. 
Helena, II. 1.50 ; II. iii. 32, xxxiv. 

88 ; III. VIII. 32, XIV. 10. 
Heleuus, III. i. 29. Son of Priam 

aud a iiro])bet. 
Helicon, II. X. 1 ; III. iii. 1, v. 19. 
Helle, II. XXVI. 5 ; III. xxii. 5. 

Daughter of Atliamas ; gave her 

name to the Hellespont, into 

which she fell from the back of 

the golden ram. 
Hercules, I. xiii. 28, xx. 16; II. 

xxiii. 8; III. XXII. 10; IV. ix. 

17, 70. 
Herculeus, I. xi. 2; II. xxxii. 5; 

III. xviii. 4 ; IV. VII. 82 ; ix. 
39, X. 9. Tlic via Ilercu'ca of 
I. XI. 2 and HI. XVIII. 4 was a 
narrow spit of land dividing the 
Lucrinc Lake from the sea. It 
was said to have been built by 
Hercules when he carried off the 
oxen of Geryon. 

Hermione, I. iv. 6. Daughter of 
Menelaus and Helen. Xcoptole- 
mus and Orestes were rivals for 
her love. 

Hesperidcs, III. xxn. 10. Nymphs 
of a legendary garden in the far 
West, where grew apples of gold. 

Hesperius, II. iii. 43, 44, xxiv. 26; 

IV. I. 8G. Western. In II. xxiv. 
26 the allusion is to the snake 
wliich guarded the gol<len apples 
in the garden of tlie Hesperides. 

3")0 



lliborufi, II. III. 11. 

Hihiira, I. ii. 16. Hilaira and 
Plioebe, daughters of Leucippus, 
were betrothed to Idas and 
Lynccus, sons of Apharous, but 
were carried oil by Castor and 
Toll 11 X. 

Ilippodamia, I. ii. 20, viii. 86. 
Daughter of Oenomaus, King of 
PJlis, who promised her to the 
man that could defeat him in a 
chariot race. IVIops succeeded 
ill so doing- by fraud, and won 
Ilippodamia. 

Hijipolyte, IV. in. 48. Queen 
of the Amazons ; conquered by 
Theseus, whose wife she Ixicamc. 

Hijipolytus, IV. v. 5. The son of 
Theseus and Hippolytc, beloved 
by his stepmother rhacdra. 

Hornerus, I. vil. 3, ix. 11 ; II. i. 21, 
XXXIV. 45 ; III. I. 33. 

Horatius, III. in. 7. Ilordlia jiila 
refers to the three Horatii who 
fought tlie Curiatii, called Curii 
by Proper! ills. 

Horos, IV. I. 78. An astrologer. 

Hylaci, I. vin. 26. The inhabi- 
Uints of Hylaea, a land beyond 
Scythia. 

Hylaeus, I. i. 13. A centaur who 
attacked Atalaiita. Milanion de- 
fended her, and was wounded by 
Hylaeus. 

Ilylas, I. XX. 6, 32, 18, 52. Sou 
of Thcrodamas, beloved by Her- 
cules. 

Hymenacus, IV. iv. 61. 

Ilypanis, I. xii. 4. Eitlier tlio 
river Bug or the river Kuban, in 
South Ilussia. 

Hypenucstre, IV. vii. 63, 67. The 
only one of the fifty daughters 
of Danaus who refused to kill 
her husband. 

Hypsipyle, I. xv. 18, 19. Queen of 
Lemnos, beloved and deserted by 
Jason. 



INDEX 



Hyrcanns, II. xxx. 20. Hijrcanum 
mare is tlie Caspiau. 

lACCnus, II. III. 17; IV. ii. 31. 
Bacchus. 

lasis, I. I. 10. Atalanta, daiigliter 
of lasus, beloved and won, accord- 
ing to this version of tlie legend, 
by Milanion. 

lason, II. XXI. 11, xxxiv. 85. 

lasonius, II. xxiv. 4.5. 

Icariotis, III. xni. 10. rcuclopc, 
daughter of Icariu.=!. 

Icarius, II. xxxiii. 24. Icarus, II. 
xxxiri. 29. Icarus, or Icarius, 
learned from Dionysus the art of 
making- wine. He gave some to 
some Attic peasants, who became 
druuli. Tliinliing that they were 
poisoned, they murdered him. He 
became a star in the Great Bear, 
named Arcturus, or Bootes. 

Ida, II. xxxir. 35. Mount Ida, 
above Troy. 

Idaeus, II. ir. 14, xxxii. 39 ; III. I. 
27, XVII. 36. 

Idaliiis, II. XIII. 54; IV. VI. 50. 
Adj. from Idulium, a mountain 
in Cyprus, sacred to Venus. 

Idas, I. II. 17. See Hilaira. 

Illacn.s, II. XIII. 48 ; IV. iv. 69. 

Ilias, II. I. 14, 50, XXXlV. 6G. 

Ilion, III. I. 31. 

Ilius, III. XIII. 61; IV. I. 53. 

Illyria, I. viii. 2 ; II. xvi. 10. 

Illyricus, II. xvi. 1. 

Inachis, I. iii. 20 ; II. xxxiii. A. 
lo, daughter of Inaclius. 

luachius, I. xiii. 31 ; II. xiii. 8. 
Argivc, Greek, from Inachus, 
King of Argos. 

India, II. x. 15. 

Indicus, II. XXII. 10; III. xvil. 22. 

Indus, I. VIII. 89 ; II. ix. 29, 
xviii. 11 ; III. IV. 1, XIII. 5 ; 
IV. III. 10. 

Ino, II. xxvm. 19. Ino, daughter 
of Cadmus and wife of Athamas, 



was smitten with madness by 
Hera. She threw herself into 
the sea and became a sea-goddess 
named Leucothea, here called 
Lcucothae. 

lo, II. XXVIII. 17, xxx. 29, XXXIII. 

7. lo, beloved of Jupiter, was 
turned into a cow by the jealousy 
of Juno, and was only restored to 
human shape after long wander- 
ings. In XXXIII. she is identified 
witli Isis. 

lolciacis, II. i. 54. Adj. from 
lolcus, the home of Ja^on. 

lole, IV. V. 35. A slave of 
Cynthia. 

Ionia, I. VI. 31. 

lonius, II. xxvr. 2, 14 ; III. XI. 72, 
XXI. 19 ; IV. VI. 16, 53. 

lope, II. XXVIII. 51. There were 
two Topes: (1) Dinghter of 
Iphicles Jind wife of Theseus. 
(2) Daughter of Aeolus and 
wife of Ceplieus ; the mother 
of Andromeda, more commonly 
called Cassiope. 

Ililiiclus, II. III. 52. See Melampus. 

Iphigeuia, III. vil. 24. 

Irus, III. v. 17. A beggar at the 
house of Ulysses, defeated by the 
disguised Ulysses in a boxing 
match. 

Ischomache, II. ii. 9. The bride of 
Pirithous, carried off by centaurs 
from her wedding feast. 

Isis, IV. V. 34. 

Ismara, III. xii. 25. The home of 
the Cicones in Thrace. Proper- 
tius speaks of it as a mountain, 
Homer as a town. 

lemarius, II. xiii. 6, xxxiii. 32. 
Adj. from the foregoing ; = 
Thracian. 

Isthmos, III. XXI. 22. Isthmus of 
Corinth. 

Italia, I. XXII. 4 ; III. vii. 63 ; IV. 
111. 40. 

Italus, III. I. 4 ; xxii. 28. 

351 



INDEX 



Ithacus, I. XV. 9 : III. xii. 20. 

Itys, III. X. 30. The son of riii!o. 
mcla, slain by bis mother to 
avcngotlicoutragodoucby Pliilo- 
mela's liusband, Tcrciis, to licr 
pi>>ter rrocuc. 

Insurtha, III. v. 16 : IV. vi. 66. 

Iiileus, IV. VI. 17. 

Julius, IV. VI. 54. 

lulus, IV. I. 48. The son of Aeneas. 

Juno, II. V. 17, XXVIII. 11, 33, 34, 
xxxiir. 9; III. xxii. 35; IN', i. 
101, vill. 16, IX. to, 71. 

luppiter, I. XIII. 20, 32 ; II. i. 39, 

II. 4, 6, III. 30, VII. 4, XIII. 16, XVI. 
16, 48, XXII. 25, XXVI. 42, 46, 
XXVIII. 1, 44 ; XXX. 28, XXXII. 
60, XXXIII. 7, 14, XXXIV. 18, 40 ; 

III. I. 27 ; II. 20, III. 12, iv. 6, IX. 
15, 47, XI. 28, 41, 66, XV. 19, 22, 
36,39, XXIV. 20; IV. I. 54, 82, 
83, 103 ; IV. 2, 10, 30, 8-5, vi. 14, 
23, IX. 8, X. 1, 15, 16,48. 

Ixion, IV. XI. 23. 

Ixioniilcs, IT. i. 38. ririthous, the 
friend of Theseus. 

L VCAF.X.V, II. XV. 13. 

Lacon, III. xiv. 33. 

Lais, II. VI. 1. A courtesan. 

Lalage, IV. vii. 45. A slave of 

Cynthia. 
Lampetic, III. xii. 29, 30. Daughter 

of Phoebus and yuardiau of his 

cattle. 
LanuviiHU, II. xxxii. 6 ; IV. viii. 3, 

48. A small town some miles to 

the south-east of Uomo. 
Laomedon, II. xiv. 2. The father 

of Priam. 
Lapitha, II. ii. 0. An ancestor of 

Ischomache. 
Lar, II. XXX. 22 ; III. in. 11 ; IV. 

III. 54, Vlil. 50. 
LatimiB, II. xxxii. 61 ; IV. vi. 45. 
Latins, III. iv. 6 ; IV. x. 37. 
Latris, TV. VIL 75 A slave of 

Cynthia. 

352 



Laviiius, IF. xxxiv. 64 Adj. from 
Laviiiium, a city of Latiuni 
founded by Aene:is. 

Lechaenra, III. xxi. ID. The 
western port of Corinth. 

Lcda, I. XIII. 29, 30. Mother of 
Castor, Pollu.x, and Helen by 
Jupiter. 

Leo, IV. 1.85. 

Lc))idus, IV. XI. 63. One of Cor- 
nelia's sons. 

Lcrna, II. xxvi. 48. Lcrnacus, II. 
XXIV. 25. The name of the fen 
where dwelt the hydra, the slay- 
ing of which formed the second 
labour of Hercules. 

Lesbia, II. xxxii. 45, xxxiv. 88. 
The pseudonym of Clo.lia, the 
mistress of Catullus. 

Lesbius, I. xiv. 2. 

Lethaeus, IV. vii. 10, 91. 

Leucadia, II. xxxiv. 86. The 
mistress of Varro of Atax. 

Lcucadius, III. xi. CO. Adj. from 
Lcucas, a promontory overlooking 
the Bay of Actiuiu, on which was 
built a temple of Apollo. 

Leucip]>is, I. ii. 15. See Hilaira. 

Leucothoc, II. xxvi. 10, xxviii. 20. 
See Ii'.o. More usually Lcucothea. 

Liber, I. in. 14. 

Libones, IV. xi. 31. Cornelia's 
family on her mother's side. 

Libnmus, III. xi. 44. A kind of 
lii,'ht galley. 

Libya, IV. i. 103. 

Libycus, II. xxxi. 12 ; IV. ix. 46. 

Linus, II. xiii. 8. A mythical 
persou;ig-e regarded as one of the 
earliest poets. 

Luceres, IV. i. 31. The Roman 
people after the Sabine war were 
composed of three tribe.s, the 
Ramnes, the original followers 
of Romulus, the Titienses, the 
followers of Titus Tatius, and 
the Luceres under Lucuiuo, or 
Lyginon, who is represented by 



INDEX 



Propertius and Dionysius of 

Halicaniassiis as coming- from 

Solonium,atown nearLanuvium. 
Juncifer, II. xix. 28. 
Lucina, IV 1.99. A title of Jnno, 

as the godiless of childbirth. 
Lncrimis, I. xi. 10. A lagoon on 

the Bay of Naples, near Baiae. 
Luna, I. X. 8 ; II. xxviii. 37, xxxiv. 

52 ; III. XX. 14. 
Liipercns, IV. i. 26. A priest of 

Lupevcus, the Koman equivalent 

of Pan Lnkaios. 
Luporcns, IV. i. 9 3. Sou of Ariia. 
Lyaeus, II. xxxiii. 35; III. v. 21. 

A title of Bacchus. 
Lyciiina, III. xv. 6, 43. I'ropertius' 

&rst love, 
tycius, III. I. 38. Tlie "Lycian 

god " is Aijollo. 
Lycomedius, IV. ii. 51. The 

Etruscans under Lucumo (set 

Luceres) were called Lyconiedii. 
Lycoris, II. xxxiv.91. Tlie mistress 

of Cornelius Gallus. Her real 

name was Cytheris. 
Lyeotas, 1 V. in. 1 . The pseudonym 

of some nol)le Roman, perhaps 

identical with the Postimuis of 

III. XII. 

Lycurgus, III.xvii. 23. Lycurgus, 
King of Tlir.ace, disai)i)r(>viug of 
the Bacchic revels, seized Diony- 
sus. The god smotehim with mad- 
ness, so that while he thought to 
hew down a vine he slew his own 
sou. 

Lycus, III. XV. 12. See Antiope. 

Lydia, I. vi. 32. 

Lydins, III. xi. 18, xvii. 30; IV. 
vil. 62. 

Lydus, III. V. 17; IV. ix. 48. 

Lygdamus, III. vi. 2, 11, 19, 24, 31, 
36, 42; IV. VII. 3-5, Vlll. 37, 68, 
70, 79. A slave of Cynthia. 

Lygmon, IV. i. 29. 5fe Luceres. 

Lyuceus, II. xxxiv. 9, 2:>. A poet 
and friend of Propertius. 

PROPERTIUS 



Lysippus, III. IX. 9. A gjeat 
sculptor, born at Sicyon, who 
flourished during the latter por- 
tion of the fourth century B.C. 

Machaon, II. I. 59. A Greek 
physician at the siege of Troy. 

Maeander, II. xxx. 1 7. A Phrygian 
river. 

Maeandrius, II. xxxiv. 35. 

Maecenas, II. i. 17, 73; III. ix. 1, 
21, 34, 59. 

Maeualins, IV. ix. 15. Adj. from 
Maenalus, a mountain in Arcadia, 
and here used loosely= Arcadian. 

Macnas, III. viii. 14, xiii. 62. 

Macouins, II. xxviii. 29. Maeonia 
was an ancient name of Lydia. 
Here the word means Homeric, 
as according to some accounts 
Homer was horn in Lydia. 
Maeoticiis, II. iii. 11. 
Miicoti.s, III. XI. 14. Lake Maeotit 
is the modern .Sea of Azof. 

SLignus, IV. VIII. 41. The name 
of a divarf. 

Mains, IV. v. 36. 

Miika, III. XIX. 8. The most 
southerly promontory of the 
Peloponnese. 

M.'imurius, IV. ii. 61. Mamuriu.^ 
A'eturius w;is a mythical worker 
in bronze of the reign of Nnma. 

Marcius, III. ii. 14, xxii. 24. The 
aqua Marcia was the water 
supplied by the aqueduct built 
by Quintus Marcius Rex in 
144 B.C. It was famous for Its 
excelleuce. 

Marianus, III. in. 43. Man'aiium 
sif/num refers to the eagle which 
Marius is said to hare first 
adopted as the Roman standard. 

Marius, II. i. 24; III. v. 16, Xl. 46. 
Caius Blarius, the great KoniaB 
geueral who defeated the Teu- 
toues and Cimbri iu 102 and 101 

BC. 

35S 



IVDEX 



Maro, II. xxxii. 14. Maro wa-* a 
comiianion of Bacdms, Buinc say 
liis son. 

Mars, II. -x.xxii. SS, .\x.\iv. 56; 

III. III. 42, IV. 11, XI. r>8 ; IV. I, 
83. 

Mirtiu-s IV. I. 56. 

Maxisoleus, III. ii. 21. The Mauso- 
leum was erected in iiiemory of 
Mansolus, King- of Caria, by liis 
widow Arti'iiiisia. He died 353. 
His monument was one of tlie 
"Wonders of tlio World." Its 
sculptures are now iu the ISriti.sli 
Museum. 

Mavois, II. XXVII. 8. 

Medea. II. xxn'. 45 ; III. xix. 17 ; 

IV. V. 41. 

Modus, III. IX. 25, XII. 11. 

Melampiis, II. iii. 51. Melauipus, 
son of Amythaon, undertook to 
drive off ilie henl of Iphichis 
lor Xe-lcns, that Bias, liis owti 
brother, miglic win the Iiand of 
I'ero, the daughter of Noleus. 
He was captured and imprisoned, 
but escaped, aud eventually suc- 
ceeded in liis tasl^. Propertius 
seems to follow a different ver- 
sion, making Melampns himself 
the suitor of Pero. 

Momuon, II. xviii. 16. The son of 
tlie Dawu. aud King of Ethiopia ; 
came to aid the Trojans and was 
Blain by Achilles. 

Mt-muouins, I. vi. 4. 

Memphis, III. xi. 34. .\ town of 
Egypt. 

Mcuandreus, II. vi. 3. Meuander, 
the c<?lobrated writer of comedy, 
wrote a comedy with Thais, a 
well - known courtesan, for 
heroine. 

Meuandrus. III. xxi. 28 ; IV. v. 43. 

Menc-l.ieus, II. xv. 14. 

Menelaus, II. iii. 37, xxxiv. 7. 

Menootiades, II. i. 38. Patroclus, 
the f'on of Jlenoetiu-s. 

354. 



Mens Rons. Til. xxiv. 19. The 
Komaus, following' their custom 
of iier.soni lying aijBlract concep- 
tions, erected a temple to '• Ciood 
Sense" in 217 B.C. 

Mentor, 111. ix. 13. A famous 
silversmith of the early portion 
of the fourth century B.C. 

Meutoi-eus, I. XI v. 2. 

.Merciiriu«, II. II. 11, xxx. 6. 

-Meroe, 1\'. vi. 78. The capital of 
Aetliiojiia. 

Merops, II. XXXI v. 31. Jferops 
was an early King of Cos. Here 
Merops = Coau. 

Methymnacus, IV. viii. S8. Adj. 
from Metliyniua, in Lesbo*. 

-Mevania, IV. i. 123. The modern 
Bevagiia. near Assisi. 

Milanioii, I. i. 9. The lover nf 
.\talanta. 

Mimas, III. vil. 22. A moiinlaiu 
in I.ydia, running into a hoarl- 
land called Argeimnm, wliich 
may have been connected with 
Argynnua (q.i:). 

Mimnurmus, I. ix. 11. A luiiious 
eroticpoet of Colophon, flourished 
about I) SO B.C. 

Minerva, 1. ii. 30 ; II. I \. 6 ; IV. i. 
118, v. 23. 

-Miuois, II. XIV. 7, xxiv. 43. 
Ariadne, daughter of Minos. 

Minois ladj.), IV. xi. 31. 

Minos, II. xxxii. 57 ; III. xix. 27. 
Minos, King of Cnosstis, in Crete. 
After his death he becams judge 
in Hades. 

.Miiious, I If. xix. 31. 

Minyae, I. xx. 4. The Argonauts, 
socallcfl because mostly descended 
from Miiiyas. 

MIscnus, 111. xviii. 3. The trum- 
peter of Aenea.«. buried at 
Miscuiim, at the north end of 
the Bay of Naples the modern 
Sliscno. 

.Aliseuusfadj.), I. xi. 4. 



INDEX 



Jfolossus, IV. vii. 24. The Molossi 
wen; a tribe in Epinis. 

Musa, I. VIII. 41 ; II. i. 35, x. 10, 
XII. 22, XIII. 3, XXXIV. 31 ; III. i. 
10, 14, II. 15, III. 29, V. 20; IV. 
IV. 61, VI. XI. 75. 

Mutina, II. i. 2 7. The modern 
Modeua, where Octavian defeated 
JIark Antony and relieved Ueci- 
mus Brutus, who was besieged 
(43 B.C.). 

Mycenae, III. xix. 19. 

Mycenaeus, II. xxii. 32. 

Mygdonius, IV. vi. 8. riirygian. 
The Blygdones were a tribe of 
rhrygia. 

Jiyron, II. xxxi. 7. A famous 
Atlicnian sculptor, flourished 
430 B.C. 

Myrrha, III. xix. 16. Myrrlia fell 
in love witli lier father, Ciuyras. 
She was transformed as a punish- 
ment into a myrrh-tree. 

Mys, III. IX. 14. A famous silver- 
smith of the fifth century B.C. 

Jfysus, I. XX. 10; II. i. C3. The 
Mijsus iuvenis of the latter pas- 
Bage is Telephus, King- of Mysia, 
wounded by the spear of Achilles, 
and healed by the rust from the 
eamc spear. 

Nais, II. XXXII. 40. 

Nauplius, IV.I.115. See Caphareus. 

Navalis (Phoebus), IV. I. 3. The 
temple of I'hoebus Navalis was 
the famous temple of Apollo on 
the Palatine, erected by Augustus 
as a memorial of his victory at 
Actium. 

Naxius, III. XVII. 2S. 

Ncmorensis, III. xxii.25. The Lake 
of Nemi, in the Alban hills. 

Neptunius, III. ix. 41. 

Neptunus, II. xvi. 4, xxvi. 9, 45, 46 ; 
III. VII. 15, XI. 42, 51. 

Nereides, II. xxvi. 15. 

Kereus, III. vii. 67 ; IV. vi. 25. 

I'ROPEHTIUS. Z * 



Nesaee, II. xxvJ. 16. A sea-nymph. 

Nestor, II. xiii. 46, xxv. 10. King 
of Pylos; lived through three 
geueratious of men. 

Nilus, II. I. 31, xxviii. 18, xxxiii. 
3,20; III. XI. 42, 51 ; IV. VI. 63 
VIII. 39. 

Niobe, II. XX. 7 ; III. x. 8. Niobe 
boasted that lior six sons and six 
daugliters were fairer than Apollo 
and Artemis. The latter punished 
her by slaying her children, while 
she was turned into stone. See 
Sipylus. 

Nireus, III. xviii. 27. The liand- 
somcst man in the Greek army 
before Troy. 

Nisus, III. XIX. 24. King' of Me- 
gara. He had a purple lock of 
hair, on which his life depended. 
Minos the Cretan besieged Me- 
gara, and Scylla, the daugliter of 
Nisus, fell in love with him, cut 
ofE the purple lock from her 
father's head, and betrayed the 
city. Minos rewarded her by 
tying- her to the rudder of his 
ship and so drowning hef. 

Nomas, IV. vii. 37. A slave of 
Cynthia. 

Nomcntum, IV. x. 26. A town 
some three miles from Home. 

Notus, II. V. 12, IX. 34 ; III. xv. 
32 ; IV. v. 62, VI. 28, Vll. 22. 

Novi Agri, IV. viii. 2. The gardens 
laid out by Maecenas on the 
Esquiline in place of an insani- 
tary burial-ground. 

Numa, IV. ii. 60. Pompilius Numa, 
an early King of Rome. 

Numautinus, I V. xi. 30. Adj. from 
Numautia, in Spain. Numantinos 
avos rtfers to Scipio Africanus, 
the conqueror of Numantia. Ho 
was known also as Numautinus. 

Nycteis, I. iv. 5. Antiope, daughter 
of Nyctt'us. 

Nyctcus, III. XV. 12, 

355 



INDP^X 



tfTmiilinn, r. XX. 1 1 , 3 I, 52 ; I \'. i \ . 

26. 
Nysaeus, 11 J. xvii. 22. Adj. fniiii 

Nysa, !i k'j^ciidiiry niountain or 

town, wIrtc Jiarcluis was bruiiyiil 

up by tlio iiyuiplis. 

OCEANV'8, II. IX. 30, XVI. 17 ; IV. 
IV. 64. 

Ocnus, IV. III. 21. Ocims was an 
iudu.st rious man, whose liard-woii 
caruiugs were continually con- 
sumed by the extravagance of 
his wife. In Polygnotus' great 
picture of the underworld he was 
represented as being punished for 
his folly by having eternally to 
twist a rope of straw, which an 
ass devoured continually at the 
other end. " To twist the roi>e 
of Ocnus" was a proverbial 
expression. 

Oeagrus, II. xxx. 3.j. Oeagrus was 
the father of Orpheus by the 
Muse Calliope. The phrase 
Oeagri f'juia suggests that I'ro- 
pertius followed a form of I he 
legend which made Apollo the 
father of Orpheus, disguised as 
Oeagrus. 

Oetacu-s, T. xiii. 24 ; III. I. S2. 
Hercules died on Mount Oeta, Mas 
translated to heaven, and married 
Hebe. 

Oiliadcs, IV. i. 117. Ajax, the son 
of Oileus, ravished Cassindra, 
and was ))unished for his sin by 
the disaster which befell the 
Greek fleet o(T Cai)liareu8, in 
which he met his death. 

Olympus, II. I. 10. 

Omphale, III. xi. 17. A queen of 
Lydia, whom Hercules lo\ ed, and 
served disguised as a woman. 

Orcus, in. XIX. 27. 

Orestes, II. xiv. 5. 

Oricius, III. vii. 49. Oricui, I. 
Viu. 80. A seaport In Illyria. 

356 



OiioM, II. XVI. &1, XXVI. 56. 
Orilhyia, I. xx. 31 ; II. xxvi. 61 ; 

III. VII. 13. The danghler of 

I'andion, ravishe.l by the Norlh 

Wind. 
Oroiitcs, II. XXI 11. 21. Orontcus, 

I. II. 3. A i^yrian river, near 

Aniioch. 
Orops, IV. I. 77. A Babylouiau 

astrologer. 
Orpheus, III. ii. S. 
Orpheus (adj.), I. iii. A'l. 
Ortygia, II. XXXI. 10 ; 111. xxii. 15. 

A mythical island, later idenli- 

lied with Delos. 
Oscus, IV. II. 62. The Oscans 

were a people of Itjiy. Here 

the adjective means '•rude," 

'■ brutal." 
Ossa, II. I. 10. Otus and KphiaKcR, 

giants, wished lo])ile. "Mount rdion 

on Mount Ossa, that they might 

storm heaven. Ossa is iu Thes- 

.saly. 

rACTOLis, I. VI. 32, XIV. 11 ; III. 

xviii. 28. A Lydian river 

famous for its alluvia! gold. 
Paestum, IV. v. 61. The modern 

I'csto, in Soulli Italy, was in 

ancient times famous for its 

roses. 
I'aetus, III. Vii. 5, 17, 26, 27, 47. 

54, 66. A friend of I'ropcrtius, 

drowned at sea. 
I'agasa, I. xx. 17. A seaport in 

Thessaly, where the Argo was 

launched. 
I'alalinus, IV. VI. 11, 44. 
I'alatium, IV. I. 3, IX. 3. The 

Palatine. 
Palladius, III. IX. 42. 
Pallas, II. II. 7, XXVIII. 12, XXX. 

18 ; III. XX. 7 ; IV. iv. 45, ix. 

57. 
Pan, III. in. 30, xiii. 4j, xvii. 31. 
P.antlionius, T. xx. 31. Paudiou, 

King- ol Athens, was the f.ither 



INDEX 



of Oritbyia, the North Wind's 
biiile. 

Pauthus, II. XXI. 1,2. A lover of 
Cyuthin. 

Parcae, IV. xi. 13. 

Parilia, IV. i. 19, iv. 73. The iea^^t 
of Pales, tlic gotUless of flocks, 
took place ou April 21, the day 
of the foundation of Kome. 

Paris, II. III. 37, XV. 13, xxxii. 35 ; 
III. I. 30, VIII. 29, xiir. 63. 

Parnassus, II. xxxi. 13 ; III. xiii. 
r.t. 

Parrhasius, III. IX. 12. A painter 
of Ephesus ; flouri.shed at the end 
of the fifth century B.C. 

Parthcnic, IV. vii. 74. Cynthia's 
nurse. 

Parlhi'uius, I. i. 11. Adj. from 
I'artheuiuni, a mountain in 
Arcadia. 

Partlius, II. x. 14, Xiv. 23. xxvii. 
5 ; III. IV. 6, IX. 54, XII. 3 ; IV. 
III. 36, 67, V. 26, VI. 79. 

Pasiphae, II. xxviil. 52. The wife 
of Minos, Kinii of Cnossus, and 
mother of the Minotaur. See II. 
XXXII. 57. 

Patroclos, II. viii. 33. 

PuuUus (L. Acmilius), IV. xi. 1, 
11, 35, 81, 96. The husband of 
Cornelia, consul in 34 B.C., and 
censor in 22 B.C. 

Paullus, IV. XI. 63. Sou of the 
.above. 

Pegae, I. xx. 33. A Mysian foun- 
tain Avherc Hylas jierishcd. 

Pcgaseus, II. xxx. 3. 

Pegasidc.s, III. I. 19. The Muses, 
so called from the fountain of 
Ilippocrenc, sometimes called 
Pegasis because caused by a blow 
from the hoof of Pegasus. 

Pelasgus, II. XXVIII. 11. Perhaps 
a learned epithet for Juno, who 
is styled Hera Pelasgis in Appol- 
lonius Rhodius. The Pelasgi were 
s primitive people of Greece. 



Peleus, 11. IX. 16. The father of 
Achilles. 

Peliacns, III. xxii. 12. Adj. from 
Pelion. The plirasc I'eliacne 
trabes refers to the Argo, the 
timbers for which were liewn 
from Mount Pelion, in Thes- 
saly. 

Pelides, H. xxii. 34. Achilles. 

Pelion, II. I. 20. <Sce Peliacus anrf 
Ossa. 

Pelopeus, III. XIX. 20; IV. vi. 
33. 

Pelusinm, III. ix. 55. A fortress 
on the Pehisiac branch of the 
Nile, captured by Augustus. 

Penelope, II. ix. 3; III. xii. 38; 
XIII. 24 ; IV. V. 7. 

Penthesilea, III. xi. 14. Pcntbc- 
silea, queen of the Amazons, 
c.ime to Troytohcl]) the Trojans. 
She was slain by Achilles, who 
was said to have fallen iu love 
with her when her helmet was 
remove 1 and he saw the beauty 
of her dead face. 

Peutheus, III. xvii. 24, xxii. 33. 
The sou of Echion and Agave, 
torn in pieces by his mother and 
her rittcudant Bacchanals ;vhilc 
he spied ujion their revels. 

Pergama, II. I. 21, ill. 35 ; III. ix. 
o9. The citadel of Troy. 

Pergameus, III. xiii. 62 ; IV. i. 51. 
Adj. from the above. Vtrijavifa 
ratis (IV. I. 51) is Cassandra. 

Perillus, 1 1. xxv. 12. I'erillus made 
a bull of bronze, so fashioned 
that a mau might be ]i!accd in- 
side an! roasted over a fire. 
I'lialaris, Tyrant of Agrigentiini, 
to whom Perillus ofl'ered the 
bull, caused its maker to be 
roasted iu it. 

Perimedeus, If. iv. 8. Adj. from 
Perimede, a legendary sorceress. 

Permcssus, II. x. 26. 

I'ero, II. III. 53. See Melampns. 

357 



INDEX 



rrriliiiebus, III. v. 88. The I'lr- 
rliaobi wciv a jwojilo of Ejiiius 
dwelling ou the slopes of Mount 
Pinilns. 

I'eisa, Iir. XI. Jl. 

rerseplioiio, 1 1, xiii. 20, x.wiii. 47, 
48. 

I'ci-scs, I\'. XI. 39. Poises, or I'cr- 
scus, Kin;;- of 5I;icc(loiii."i, was 
(icfoatcd by Aeuiiliiis raullns, 
Cornelia's ancestor, al I'viliia in 
168 B.C. He elaimcd to be de- 
scended both from Achilles and 
Hercules. 

Perseus, II. xxviii. 22, xxx. 4. 

Perseus (adj.). III. xxii. S. 

Pcrnsiiius, I. .xxii. 3. Adj. fr.nu 
Pcrusia, the iijodmi I'lrii^ia, 
where Octaviau defeated Liuiiis 
Antoiiius in the Periisine war, 
41 n.c. 

Petale, IV. vii. 43. A slave of 
Cynthia. 

Phaeacus, III. ii. 1."?. .Vdj. from 
I'haeacia. The alliisiin Is to the 
famous orchard of Alciiions de- 
scribed in the Otlys^fij. 

Phaedra, II. I. 51. 

I'harius, III. vii. 5; Pharos, II. i. 
30. Pharos was an island in the 
port of Alexandria. 

Phasis, I. XX. 18 ; III. xxii. II. A 
river of CoIcl)is, in the Black Sea. 

I'hidiacus, III. ix. 1.5. A reference 
to the chryselephantine statue of 
Zeus made by I'hidias for the 
temple at Olyinpia. 

Philetaeus, III. in. :>2; IV. vi. 3. 
The most famous of the elegiac 
poets of the Alexandrian period. 

Philetas, II. xxxiv. 31 ; III. i. 1. 
A Coau poet, after Calliniachus. 

Thilippeus, in.xi.4i). The "blood 
of Philip" means the Ptolemaic 
dynasty, whose kin<,'s claimed 
descent from Philip of M.acedon. 

Pbilippi, Tl. 1. 27. 

Phillyrides, II. I. 60. Sff Chiron. 

S58 



Philoclctcs, II. I. rt9. Phllocfeten 
was bitten by a serpent on tlie 
way to Troy, and abandoned in 
the island of Leniiifis. Later an 
oracle declared that without the 
aid of I'hiloctetes' bow Troy 
Would not be Iflken. Ho was 
therefore brought to Troy, and 
healed of the serpent's bite which 
had cripi)lcd him. 

riiineus. III. v. 41. Phineiis, King 
of Bithynia, was blinded as a 
punishment for his sin in blind- 
ing his children, and was also 
plagued by Harpies, who defiled 
the meats upon liis table, making 
them uiii>alable. 

Phlegiaeus, II. i. 3:» ; 111. ix. 48, 

XI. 37. The IMilegrean ]>lains, 
the volcanic district immediately 
north of Naples, were reputed to 
have been the scene of the battle 
between the gods and giants. 

Phoelje, I. II. 15. 5«eHilaira. 
Phoebus, I. II. 17, 27 ; II. xv. 15, 

XXVIII. 51, XXXI. 1, 5, 10, XXXII. 

28, XXXIV. 61 ; III. I. 7, lit. 13, 

XII. 30, XX. 12, XXII. 30 ; IV. i. 3, 
II. 32, VI. 15, 27, 67. 76. 

Phoeuices, II. .xxvii. 3. 

Phoenix, II. 1.60. Phoenix was (he 
tutor of Achilles. He was blinded 
by his father, but healed by Chiron, 
and became king of the Dolopcs- 

Phorcis, III. xxTL 8. A monster, 
the father of the Gorgon Medusa. 

Phiygia, III. xiii. 63. 

Phrygius, I. ii. 19 ; II. i. 42, xxx. 
in, XXXI v. 35. 

Phryne, II. vi. 6. A famous cour- 
tesan of Athens. 

Phryx, II. XXII. 16, 30; IV. i. 2. 

Phthius, II. XIII. 38. Adj. from 
Phthia, the home of .\ehilles. 

Phylacidcs, I. xix. 7. Protesilaus, 
son of Phylacus, husband of I,ao- 
damia. He went to the siege of 
Troy immediately after bis mar, 



INDEX 



rlage, and was the first of tlie 
Greeks to be slain. He was per- 
mitted to leave H;ules to visit his 
wife. 

Phyllis, II. XXIV. 44. Daughter of 
Lyciirgiis. See Doiuoplinoii. 

Phyllis, IV. viir. 29, 39, 57. A 
courtesan. 

Pierides, II. x. 12. 

Pierius, II. xiii. 5. Adj. from Mount 
Pierus, in Thessaly, sacred to the 
Muses. 

Piudaricus, III. xvii. 40. 

Pinlus, III. V. 33. A mountain on 
the borders of Macedonia and 
Epirus. 

Piraeus, III. xxr. 23. 

Pirithous, II. vi. 18. The husband 
of Ischomache,ravUhed from him 
by centaurs at his wedding- least. 
See also IxioniiU-.s. 

Pisces, IV. I. 85. 

Plato, III. XXI. 25. 

Pleias, II. xvr. 51 ; III. v. 36. 

Poenus, II. XXXI. 3 ; IV. iii. 51. 

Pollux, I. II. 16 ; III. XIV. 17, XXII. 
26. 

Polydorus, III. xin. 56. A son of 
Priam, sent for safety to Poly- 
mestor. King of Thrace, and mur- 
dered by his host for the sake of 
his gold. 

Polymestor, IIf.xiii.55. See above. 

Polyplumns, II. xxiir. 32 ; III. ii. 
7, XII. 26. 

Pompeia Porticus, II. xxxii. 11. A 
colonnade built in 55 B.C., and 
standing near Pompey's theatre 
on the Campius Martins. 

Pompeius, III. xi. 35. 

Pompeins (adj.). III. xi. 68 ; IV. 
VIII. 75. The Pompeia umbra 
in the latter passage refers to the 
Porticus Pompeia. 

Ponticus, I. VII. 1, 12, IX. 26. An 
epic poet and friend of Propertlus. 

Postumus, III. XII. 1, 15, 13. A 
friend of Propertius, husband of 



Aelia Galla, perhaps identical 
with Lj'cotas. 

Praeneste, II. xxxii. 3. The 
modern I'alestrina, some twenty 
miles east of Kome, famous for 
the oracle of Fortuna Primigenia. 

Praxiteles, III. ix. 16. A famous 
Athenian sculptor, flourished iu 
the middle of the fourth century 
B.C. His most famous stattie was 
the Venus of Cuidos, to which 
there is an allusion in Triopos 
urbe, Triops, or TriopaSj being the 
legendary founder of Cuidos. 

Priamus, II. iti. 40, xxviii. 54 : IV. 
I. 52. 

Prometheus (subst. and adj.), I. xii. 
10; II. I. 69; III. V. 7. 

Propertius, II. viii. 17, xiv. 2 7, 
XXIV. 35, XXXIV. 93 ; HI. ill. 17, 
X. 15 ; IV. I. 71, VII. 49. 

Propontiacus, III. xxii. 2. 

Ptolemaeeus, II. i. 30. 

I'lidicitia, II. vi. 25. There were 
two temples of Pudicitia at Kome, 
the one dedicatel to Pudicitia 
patricia, the other to Pudicitia 
plebeia. 

Pulydamas, III. i. 29. A Trojan 
warrior. 

Pyrrhus, III. xi. 60. King of 
Epirus; invaded Italy in the 
early years of the third century 
B c, and w.as only defeated by 
Rome with the greatest difficulty. 

Pythins, II. xxxi. 16 ; III. xiil. 53. 
An epithet of Apollo ; = Del- 
phian. 

Python, IV. vi. 35. A gigantic 
snake slain by Apollo at Delphi. 

QuiNTiLiA, II. xxxiv. 90. See 

Calvns. 
Quirinus, IV. vi. 21. Originally a 

title of Komulus, but here given 

to Augustus as second founder of 

the city. 
Quirites, IV. I. 13, viri. 59. 

359 



INDEX 



Ramnes, IV. I. si. Sec Luceres. 

Koinus, II. 1. 28; III. ix. 50; IV. 
1. 9, 50, VI. 80. Krcqueutly used 
metri r/ratia for Uoiiniliis. 

Rliemis, III. HI. 45 ; IV. x. 39, 41. 

Kliipaeus, I. vi. 3. A uiytliical 
range of luouiitaius in the .North. 

Koma, I. VIII. 31, xii. 2 ; II. v. 1, 
VI. 22, -W. 4C, XVI. 19, XIX. 1, 
XXXII. 43, XXXIII. IC ; III. I. 15, 

55, III. 44, XI. 36, 49, 55, 6G, xil. 
18, xili. CO, XIV. 34, XXII. 20 ; 
IV. I. 1, C7, 87, II. 49, IV. 9, 35, 

56, VI. 67, IX. 20, X. 10, XI. 37. 
Ptnmanus, I. vil. 22, XXll. 5; II. 

III. 29, 30, X. 4, XVIII. 2G, XXVIII. 
65 ; III. III. 11, IV. 10, IX. 23, 
49, 55, XI. 31, 43, XXI. 15, XXii. 
17; IV. I. 37, 04, II. 6,55, III. 45, 

IV. 12, 35, VI. 3, X. 38. 
lioinulus, II. VI. 20; IV. I. 32, iv. 

79, VI. 43, X. 5, 14. 
Komuliis (ailj.). III. xi. 52; IV. 

IV. 26. 
Knbruui mare, I. xi\'. 12; III. 

XIII. 6. 

Sabinls, II. VI. 21, XXXIT. 47 ; 
IV. II. 52,111. 58, IV. 12, 32, 57. 

Sacra Via, II. I. 34, xxiii. 15, xxiv. 
14 ; III. IV. 22. The Sacred 
Way was the road by wlilch the 
triumphal ]irocessioii passed to 
the Capitol. In II. xxiii. it 
is nientloiiod a«i the h.aunt ol' 
courtesans, in II. xxiv. as the 
street where Jovers buy trinkets 
for their mistresses. 

Sahnonis, I. xiii. 21 ; III. xix. 13. 
Tyro, daug'hter of Salmoneus, was 
ravislicd by Poseidon, disg-uised 
as the river-g'od Enipeus. 

Sanctus, IV. ix. 71, 72, 74. A title 
ol IIer<•ule^^. 

Saturnus, II. xxxii. 52 ; IV. i. 84. 

Scaeae, III. ix. 39. A gate of 
Troy before whicli Achilles was 
slalu 

360 



Scamander, III. i. 27. A river in 
the plain of Troy. 

Scipiadcs, III. xi. 67. A Grecised 
version for Scipiones, used by 
Roman poets vietri tjratia. 

Siiron, III. xvi. 12. A roblxT 
dwelling' where the road from 
Corinth to Megar.i and Athens 
ran along' the edge of tlie elilf. 
He used to cast his victims down 
the precipice into the se.o, but 
was at last himself destroyed by 
Theseus. 

Scribonia, IV. xi. 65. The mother 
of Cornelia. She afterwards 
became the wife of Aiiunstus. 

Scylla, II. XXVI. 53; III. xii. 28. 
A monster dwelling in a cave ou 
the Italian shore of the Straits 
of Messina. 

Scylla, III. XIX. 21; IV. iv. 39. 
,sVc Nisus. In the latter passag'e 
she is iileiitified with the above. 

Scyrius, II. ix. 10. See Deidamia. 

Sc.ythia, IV. in. 47. 

Scytliii'us, 1 II. .x\ I. 1 3. 

Sinula, II. xxviii. 27, xxx. 29. 
The mother of Uacchus. She 
besought her lover, Jupiter, to 
fijjpear in all his majesty when 
he visited her. He did so, and 
she perished in the fire of )iis 
thunderbolts. Bacchus was born 
uniimely, but saved by Jupiter, 
who cut open bis own thigh and 
(•oncealed the infant in it until 
the full time for his birth had 
come. 

Seiniraniis, III. XI. 21. A IVrsiau 
queen wlio founded Habylon. 

Sericus, IV. in. 8, viii. 23. Adj. 
from Seres, the Chinese. 

Sibylla, II. xxiv. 33 : IN', i. 4 9. 

Sicanus, I. xvi. 29. 

Siculu.s, 11. I. 2S ; III. xviii. 33. 

Sidonlus, II. XVI. 65, XXix. 15 ; IV. 
IX. 47. 

Silenus, III. III. 29 



INDEX 



Silvaniis, IV. iv. 5. 

Slmois, ir. IX. 12; III. l. 27. A 
river of Troy. 

Sinis, III. XXII. 37. A robber who 
killed his victimsby bending; two 
pine-trees together and tying 
them between the two. Then on 
the trees swinging- back they 
were torn in two. He v.as put 
to death by Theseus. 

Sipylus, II. XX. 8. A Phrygian 
inountaiu on wliich Niobe sat 
turned to stone. The rock, re- 
sembling' a woman plunged in 
sorrow, is still to be seen. 

Sircues, III. xii. 34. 

Sisyphius, II. xvii. 7, xx. 32. 
Sisyphus, IV. xi. 23. Sisyphu.s, 
King- of Corinth, was condemned 
for his sins to roll a rock uphill 
to all eternity. The moment the 
rock reached the top it rolled 
down again. 

Socraticus, II. xxxiv. 2 7. 

Solonium, IV. i. 31. A small (own 
near Lamivium, on the Ajplni 
Way. 

Spartauus, I. iv. 6 ; III. xiv. 21. 

Sparte, III. xiv. 1. 

Strymonis, IV. iv. 72. A womasi 
of Strymon, a river in Thrace. 
= a Thraciau Amazon. 

Styg-ius, II. IX. 2G, XXVII. 13, 
xxxiv. 53 ; III. xxm. 9 ; IV. 
III. 15, IX. 41. 

Subura, IV. vii. 15. A quarter of 
Home lying- between the Esqui- 
linc, Viminal, and Quirinal, and 
a great haunt of courtesans. 

Suevus, III. III. 45. The Suevi, a 
German tribe, crossed the Rhine 
in 29 B.C., and were defeated by 
Gains Carinas. 

Sycambil, IV. vi. 77. The Sycambri 
defeated the Romans under Mar- 
cus Lollius in Gaul 16 B.C., and 
Augustus went to Gaul to deal 
with the situation. 



Syphax, III. XI. 59. A Libyan 
king ; deserted Rome and allied 
himself with Carthage in the 
second Punic war. He was de- 
feated by Scipio and brought a 
captive to Rome 201 B.C. 

Syrins, II. xiii. 30. 

Syrtes, II. IX. 33 ; III. xix. 7, xxiv. 
16. The Syrtes were two gulfs 
on the North African coast, now 
Gulf of Cabes and Gulf of Sidra. 
They were regarded with great 
terror owing- to their shoals and 
shifting curi-ents. 

Taenarius, (a) I. xiii. 22 ; (6) III. 
II. 11. (a) An epithet of Nep- 
tune, (b) A reference to black 
marble quarried at Taenarum, in 
the south of the Peloponnese. 

Tanais, II. xxx. 2. The river Don. 

Tantalis, II. xxxi. 14. Niobe, 
daughter of Tantalus. 

Tantaleus,II.i. 66,xvii.5;IV.xi.24. 

Tarpeia, IV. iv. 1, 16, 29, 81, 93. 

Tarpeius, I. xvi. 2 ; III. XI. 45 ; 
IV. I. 7, IV. 1, VIII. 31. 

Tarquinius, III. xi. 4 7. Tarquin 
the Proud, King of Rome. 

Tatius (subst. and adj.), II. xxxii. 
47 ; IV.I.30, 11. 52, iv. 7,19, 26,31, 
34, 38, 89, IX. 74. Titus Tatins 
king- of the Sabines, defeated 
Romulus, and became joint King 
of Rome. 

Taygetus, III. xiv. 15. A range of 
mountains in Sparta. 

Tegeaeus, III. iii. 30. Au epithet 
of Pan, who was worshipped at 
Tegea, in Arcadia. 

Teia, IV. viii. 31, 58. A courtesan. 

Telegonus, II. xxxii. 4. Son of 
Ulysses and Circe; the founder 
of Tusciilum. 

Teucer, IV. vi. 21. 

Tcuthras, I. xi. 11. Teuthras is a 
name associated with Cumae. 
Who he was is not known. 

S6l 



INDEX 



Tentoniius, 111. in. a. See Jhuiiis. 

Thais, II. VI. 3 ; IV. v. 43. A 
famous courtesan of Athens, ilie 
heroiue of a play by ^Icuander. 

Thamyni?, II. .\xii. 19. A legen- 
dary bard of Tlirace who boasted 
that be could vanquish the 
Jluses in a contest of song. They 
punished him for bis boast by 
mnkiuc; liim blind. 

Thebac, 1. vii. 1 ; II. i. 21, vi. 5, 
vni. ly ; III. II. 5, XVII. 33 ; IV. 
V. 25. In the lust passage the 
reference is to Eyyiitian Thebes. 

Tbebanus, II. viii.'24, ix. 50 ; III. 
XVIII. 6. 

Theiodamantens, I. xx. 6. Adj. 
from Theiodamas, father of 
II y las. 

Thermodon, IV. iv. 71. Tliermo- 
dontiacus, III. xiv. 14. A river 
of Cappadocia. 

Tlie.scus, II. I. 37, XIV. 7, xxiv. 43. 

Theseus (adj.). I. in. 1 ; III.xxi.24. 

Tbesprotus, I. xi. 3. A Kin;> of 
J^pirus ; but be is also connected 
with the district round Cumae. 
The connection is perhaps due to 
the fact that Acheron, Cocytus, 
and the Acbcrusiau Lake were 
In Epirus, while there was an 
Acberusian Lake near Cumae, 
not to Bi>oak of Avernus. 

Tbessalia, I. v. 6. 

Tbessalicus, III. xix. 13. 

Thcssalus, I. xix. 10 ; II. xxii. 80 ; 

III. XXIV. 10. 

Thetis, III. VII. G8. A sea-goddess, 

wife of Peleus and mother of 

Achilles. 
Thrax, III. xili. 55. 
Tbreicius, III. ii. 4. 
Tbybris, III. iv. 4. 
Tbynias, I. xx. 34. A nymph of 

Tbyuia, a district adjoining 

Bithynia. 
Tbyrsis, II. xxxiv. 68. A Ver- 

tfilian sliepberd. 

362 



Tiberiuus(subat.andadj.), I. xiv. 1| 
IV. II. 7. 

Tiberis, II. xxxiii. 20 ; HI. xi. 42 ; 
IV. I. 8, X. 25. 

Tibur, II. XXXII. 5; III. xvi. 2. 
The modern Tivoli, a small 
town on (lie Anio in the Sabine 
liills. 

Tiburuus, III. xxii. 23. 

Tiburtiuus, IV. vil. S^>. 

Tiresias, IV. ix. 57. A Theban 
who saw Pallas bathing. She in 
anger blinded him. but on tlie 
entreaty of bis mother bestowed 
upon him powers of jirophccy. 

Tisiphonc, III. v. 40. A Fury". 

Titanes, II. i. 19. 

Titbouus, II. xviii. 7, 15, x.w. 
10. Tit bonus when youn<,' was 
beloved by the Dawn, who gave 
bim immortality. She forgot, 
however, to give him eternal 
youth, and be grew obi but 
could not die. 

Titiens, IV. i. 31. See Liiceres. 

Tityrus, II. xxxiv. 72. A Ver- 
gilian shepherd. 

Tityus, II. XX. 31 ; III. v. 44. A 
giant, condemned to bo eter- 
nally devoured by a vulture iu 
Hades. 

Tolumuius, IV. x. 23, 37. King of 
Veil. 

Triops, III. IX. IG. Founder of 
Cnidos. 

Triton, II. xxxii. 16 ; IV. vi. 61. 

Trivia, II. xxxii. 10. Diana. 

Troia, IL iii. 34, viii. 10, xxviii. 
53, XXX. 30 ; III. I. 32, XVIII. 3 ; 
IV. I. 89, 47, 87, 114. 

Troiauus, II. vi. 16, xxxiv. 63. 

Troicus, IV. I. 87. 

Tullus, I. I. 9, VI. 2, xiv. 20, X\ll. 
1 ; III. XXII. 2, 6, 39. A friend 
of I'ropertius. 

Tusciis. IV. II. 3, 49, 50. 

Tyiubiridae, I. xvii. 18. Castor 
uud Pollux, sons of Tyndareua. 



INDEX 



Tyudiiris, II. xxxii. 31 ; III. ahi. 

30. Clytcmnestra, dauyhtur of 

Tyndiux'ns. 
Tyrius, III. xiv. 27; IV. in. 31, 

V. 22. 
Tyro, ri. xxviir. 51. Src Sal- 

monis. 
Tyros, II. xvi. 18 ; III. xiir. 7. 
Tyrrheniis, I. viii. 11 ; III. xvii. 

25. Etruscan. 

Varro, II. xxxiv. 85, 86. A poet 
of the Alexandrian scliool, born 
at Atax. He translated tlie Argo- 
nantica of AiKiUonius Khodius, 
and subsequently wrote ele<;ies in 
honour of Ills niistress Leneadia. 

Veil, IV. x. 24, 27. An ancient 
town of Ktrnria. 

Veleus, IV. x. 23. 

Veins, IV. x. 31. 

Velabrum, IV. ix. 5. The marshy 
land lying between the Vicus 
Tnscus and the Forum Boariiim, 
beneath the Aventine. In early 
times it was Hooded, and the 
Aventine could only be ap- 
proached from the rest of the 
city by water. 

Venetus, I. xii. 4. 

Venus, I. I. 33, ii. 30, xiv. IG ; II. 
X. 7, XIII. 56, XV. 11, XVI. 13, 

XIX. 18, XXT. 2, XXII. 22, XXVIII. 
9, XXXII. 33 ; III. III. 31, IV. 19, 
V. 23, VI. 34, A'lli. 12, IX. 11, X. 
30, XIII. 2, XVI. 20, XVII. 3, XX. 
20, XXIV. 13 ; IV. I. 46, 137, 138, 
III. 50, V. 5, 33, 65, VII. 19, VIII. 
16, 34, 45. 



Vergiliae, I. viii. 10. The Pleiad; 

Vergilius, II. xxxiv. 61. 

Vertumnus, IV. li. 2, 10, 12, S-^. 
The "god of change," specially 
associated with the seasons and 
tlie fruits of the earth. His 
image stood in the Vicns Tuscus, 
leading' from the Velabrum to the 
Forum Itonianuni. 

Vesta, II. XXIX. 27 ; III. iv. 11 ; 
IV. I. 21, IV. 18, 36, 69, XI. 53. 
The goddess of the household 
also of flocks and herds. 

Vicus Tuscus, IV. ii. 50. See 
Vertumuus. 

Virdomarns, IV. x. 41. King of the 
Insubres ; slain by M. Claudius 
Marcellus at Clastidium iu 222 

B.C. 

Vlixes, II. VI. 23, IX. 7, xiv. 3 
XXVI. 37 ; III. VII. 41, XII. 23. 



Vmber, I. xx. 7 

IV. I. 124. 
Vnibria, I. xxii. 

121. 
Volsinii, IV. ii. 



III. XXII. 23; 
• ; IV. I. 63, 64, 
1. A town in 



Etruria, the modern Bolsena. 

Xerxes, II. i. 22. The allusion in 
this passage is to Xerxes' attempt 
to cut a canal across the pro- 
montory of Athos. 

Zephyrls, I. XVI. 34, XVIII. 2. 
Zetes, I. XX. 26. A winged son of 

tlie North Wind. 
Zethns, HI. xv. 29, 41. Son of 

Antiopa and Jupiter, brother of 

Amphiou. 



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BL'NSAY, St7FF0LE. 



THE LOEB CLASSICAL 
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Latin Authors 

APULEIUS. THE GOLDEN ASS (METAMORPHOSES). 
W. Adliiigton (1566). Revised by S. Gaselee. (4/// Imp.) 

AULUS GELLIUS. J. C. Rolfe. 3 Vols. 

■AUSONIUS. H. G. Evelyn White. 2 Vols. 

BOETHIUS: TRACTS A\n DE CONSOLATIONE 
rHH.OSOPHIAE. Rev. H. F. Stewart and E. K. Rand. 
{2nd Iti/p.) 

CAESAR : CIVIL WARS. A. G. Peskett. {yd Imp.) 

CAESAR: GALLIC WAR. II. J. Edwards, {^/h Imp.) 

CATULLUS. F. W. Cornish ; TIBULLUS. ). B. Postdate • 
AND PERVIGILIUM VENERIS. J. W. Mackail. " (8/// 
Jmp.) 

CICERO: DE FINIBUS. H. Rackham. {2nd Imp.) 

CICERO : DE OFFICIIS. Walter Miller, {yd Imp.) 

CICERO: DE SENECTUTE, DE AMICITIA, DE 
DIVINATIONE. W. A. Falconer. {2nd Imp.) 

CICERO : DE REPUBLICA and DE LEGIBUS. Clinton 
W. Keyes. 

CICERO: LETTERS TO ATTICUS. E. O. Winstedt. 
3 Vols. (Vol. I. d,th Imp., Vol. II. yd Imp. and III. 2nd Imp.) 

CICERO: LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS. W. Glynn 
Williams. 3 Vols. 

CICERO : PHILIPPICS. W. C. A. Ker. 



CICERO: PRO ARCIIIA, POST REDITUM, DE DOMO, 
ETC. N. H. Watts. 

CICERO: TUSCULAN DISPUTATIONS. J. E. King. 

CICERO: PRO CAECINA, PRO LEGE MANILIA, PRO 
CLUENTIO, PRO RABIRIO. II. Grose Hodge. 

CICERO: VERRINE ORATIONS. L. II. G. Greenwood. 
2 Vols. \'ol. I. 

CLAUDIAN. M. Platnauer. 2 Vols. 

CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE. W. Walts (163 1). 
2 Vols. (Vol. I. i,th Imp., Vol. II. yd Imp.) 

FRONTINUS : STRATAGEMS and AQUEDUCTS. C. E. 
Bennett. 

FRONTO : CORRESPONDENCE. C. R. Il.iines. 2 Vols. 

HORACE: ODES AND EPODES. C. E. Bennett. {Zth 
Imp. Jtvised.) 

HORACE: SATIRES, EPISTLES, ARS POETICA. 

H. R. F.iirclough, {2>ici Ii/ip. revised.) 

JUVENAL AND PERSIUS. G. G. R.amsay. ^fh Imp.) 

LIVY. B.O.Foster. 13 Vols. Vols. I. -IV. (Vol. I. 2;/./' 
Imp. jevised.) 

LUCAN. J. D. Duff. 

LUCRETIU.S. W. H. D. Rouse. (,2iid F.dn.) 

MARTIAL. W. C. A. Ker. 2 Vols. {2nd Imp, revised.) 

OVID: HEROIDES and AMORES. Grant Showerman. 
[znd Imp. ) 

OVID: METAMORPHOSES. F.J.Miller. 2 Vols. (Vol. 
I. 5M Imp., Vol. II. 4//;! /;///.) 

OVID : TRISTIA and EX PONTO. A. L. Wheeler. 

PETRONIUS. M. Hescliine; SENECA: APOCOLO- 
CYNTOSIS. W. II. D. Rouse. (4/// Imp.) 

PLAUTUS. Paul Nixon. 5 Vols. Vols. L-IIL (Vol. L 
yd Imp. ) 

PLINY : LETTERS. Melmoth's Translation revised Ly 
W. M. L. Httchinson. 2 Vols, {yd Imp.) 



PROPERTIUS. H.E.Butler. {d,th Imp.) 

QUINTILIAN. II. E. Buller. 4 Vols. 

SALLUST. J. C. Rolfe. 

SCKIPTORES IlISTORIAE AUGUSTAE. D. Magie. 
3 Vols. Vols. I. and II. 

SENECA: EPISTULAE MORALES. R. M. Gummere. 
3 Vols. 

SENECA: MORAL E96AYS. J. W. Basore. 3 Vols, 
Vol. I. 

SENECA: TRAGEDIES. F.J.Miller. 2 Vols. {2nd Imp. 
revised.) 

STATIUS. J. II. Mozley. 2 Vols. 

SUETONIUS. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 4/// Imp. 
revised. Vol. II. yd Imp.) 

TACITUS: DIALOGUS. Sir Wm. Peterson and AGKI- 
COLA AND GERMANIA. Maurice Ilutton. {yd Imp.) 

TACITUS: HISTORIES. C.H.Moore. 2 Vols. Vol.1. 

TERENCE. John Sargeaunt. 2 Vols, {^th Imp.) 

VELLEIUS PATERCULUS and RES GESTAE. F. W. 

Shipley. 

VIRGIL. H. R. Fairclough. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. V^t /'"/•. 
Vol. If. S'/i l>np.) 



Greek Authors 

ACHILLES TATIUS. S. Ga-sckc. 

AENEAS TACTICUS: ASCLKI'IODOTUS ANu UNA- 
SANDER. The Illinois Greek Club. 

AESCIIINES. C. D. Adams. 

AESCHYLUS. II. Weir Smyth. 2 Vols. (VoU. 2W/ /»:/>.) 

APOLLODORUS. Sir James G. Fiazor. 2 Vols. 

APOLLONIUS RIIODIUS. R. C. Seaton. {.yd Imp.) 

THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS. Kirsopp Lake. 2 Vols. 
(Vol. I. 4//-! Imp., Vol. II. yd Imp.) 

APPIAK'S ROMAN HISTORY. Horace White. 4 Vols. 
(Vols. I. and IV. 2nd Imp.) 

ARISTOPHANl'.S. Benjamin Pickley Rogers. 3 Vols. 
{2nd Imp.) X'crsc trans. 

ARISTOTLE: THE "ART' OF RHETORIC. J. H. 

Freese. 
ARISTOTLE: THE NICO.MACHEAN ETHICS. 11. 

Rackliani. 

ARISTOTLE : POETICS and LONGINUS. W. Ilumillon 
Fyfe; DEMETRIUS ON STYLE. W. Rhys Roberts. 

ATHENAEUS: DEIPNOSOPHISTAE. C. B. Gulick. 7 
Vols. Vols. I-III. 

CALLIMACHUS and LYCOPHRON. A. W, Mair: 
ARATUS. G. R. Mair. 

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. Rev. G. W. Butter worth. 

DAPIINIS and CliLOE. Thomley's Translation revised by 
I. M. Edmonds; and PARTHENIUS. S. Gaselee. (2nd 
'Jmp ) 

DEMOSTHENES, DE CORONA and DE FALSA 
LEGATIONE. C. A, VinceandJ. II. Vince. 

DIO CASSIUS: ROMAN HISTORY. E. Gary, y Vols. 

DIOGENES LAERTIUS. R. D. Hicks. 2 Vols. 

EP1CTETU.S. W. A. Oldfather. 2 Vols. 

EURIPIDES. A. S. Way. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. yd Imp., 
Vol. II. 5//; /////., Vol. IV. 4M Imp., Vol. III. 2mi Imp.) 
Verse trans. 

EUSEBIUS: ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. Kirsopp 
Lake. 2 Vols. Vol. I 



/ ^ 



GALEN: ON THE NATURAL FACULTIES. A. J. 
Brock. {2)id Imp. ) 

THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY. W. R. Paton. 5 Vols. 
(Vol. I. yd Imp., Vol. H. 2nd Imp.) 

THE GREEK BUCOLIC POETS (THEOCRITUS, 
BION, MOSCHUS). J.M.Edmonds, {^/h Imp. revised.) 

HERODOTUS. A. D. Godley. 4 Vols. (Vols. I.-III. 
2tid Imp. ) 

IIESIOD AND THE HOMERIC HYMNS. H. G. Evelyn 
While. (4//^ //,'//.) 

HIPPOCRATES. W. II. S. Jones and E. T. Withington. 
4 Vols. Vols. I.-III. 

HOMER: ILIAD. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.) 
HOMER: ODYSSEY. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols, {yd 
Imp.) 

ISAEUS. E. W. Forster. 

ISOCRATES. G. B. Norlin. 3 Vols. Vuis. I. and H. 

JOSEPHUS : II. St. J. Thackeray. 8 Vols. Vols. I.-III. 

JULIAN. Wilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols. 

LUCIAN. A.M.Harmon. 8 Vols. Vols. L -IV. (Vols. L 
and II. yd Imp. 

LYRA GRAECA. J. M. Edmonds. 3 Vols. (Vol. I. 2nd 
Ed. revised and enlarged. ) 

MARCUS AURELIUS. C. R. Haines. {2nd Imp.) 

MENANDER. F. G. Allinson. 

OPPIAN, COLLUTHUS, TRYPHIODORUS. A. W. Mair. 

PAUSANIAS : DESCRIPTION OF GREECE. W. H. S. 
Jones. 5 Vols, and Companion Vol. Vols. I. and II. 

PHILO. F. M. Colson and Rev. G. II. Whitaker. 10 Vols. 
Vols. I. and II. 

PIHLOSTRATUS : THE LIFE OF APOLLONIUS OF 
TYANA, F. C. Conybeare. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. yd Imp., 
Vol. II. 2nd Imp.) 

PHILOSTRATUS and EUNAPIUS: LIVES OF THE 
SOPHISTS. Wilmer Cave Wright. 

PINDAR. Sir J. E. Sandys. {\th Imp.) 

PLATO: CHARMIDES, ALCIBIADES, IHPPARCHUS, 
THE LOVERS, THEAGES, MINOS and EPINOMIS. 
W. R. M. Lamb. 



PLATO: CRATVLUS, PARMENIDES, GREATER HIP- 
PIAS, LESSER I1I1'1'L\S. II. N. lowlcr. 

PLATO: EUTIIVPIIRO, AI'OLOGV, CRITO, PIIAEDO, 
PIIAEDRUS. H. N. Fowler, {dlh Imp.) 

PLATO: LACHES, PROTAGORAS, MI:N0, EUTIIV- 
DEMUS. W. R. M. Lamb. 

PLATO : LAWS. Rev. R. G. Ruiy. 2 Vols. 

PLATO: LYSIS, SYMPOSIUM, GORGIAS. W. R. M. 
Lamb. 

PLATO: STATESMAN, PIIILEBUS. II. N. E.jwkr; 
ION. W. R. M. Lamb. 

PLATO: THEAETETUS and SOPHIST. II. N. Fowler. 
[7.nd Imp.) 

PLUTARCH: MORALIA. F. C. Babbitt. 14 Vols. Voli. 
L and II. 

PLUTARCH: THE PARALLEL LIVES. B. Perrin. n 

Vols. (Vols. I., II. and VII. 2nd Imp.) 
POLYBIUS. W. R. Palon. 6 Vols. 

PROCOPIUS: HISTORY OF THE WARS. H. B. 
Dewing. 7 Vols. I.-V. 

QUINTUS SMYRNAEUS. A. S. Way. Verse trans. 
SOPHOCLES. F. Storr. 2 Vols. (Vol, I. 5M Imp., Vol. 
II. a,th Imp.) Verse trans. 

ST. BASIL: LETTERS. R. J. Deferrari. 4 Vols. Vols. L 
and II. 

ST. JOHN DAMASCENE: BARLAAM AND I0.\SAP1I. 
Rev. G. R. Woodward and Harold Maitingly. 

STRABO: GEOGRAPHY. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols. 
Vols. I. -VI. 

THEOPHRASTUS: CHARACTERS. J. M. Edmonds; 
HERODES, etc. A. D. Knox. 

THF-OrilRASTUS: ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS. Sir 
Arthur Hort, Bart. 2 Vols. 

THUCVDIDES. C.F.Smith. 4 VoK (\'o\. I. 2nd Imp. 
revised.) 

XENOPHON: CYROPAEDIA. Walter Miller. 2 Vols. 
(Vol. I. 2nd Imp.) 

XENOPHON: HELLENICA, ANABASIS, APOLOGY 
AND SYMPOSIUM. C. L. Brownson and O. J. Todd. 
3 Vols. 

XENOPHON: MEMORABILIA and OECONOMICUS. 
E. C. Marchant. 

XENOPHON: SCRIPTA MINORA. E. C. Marchant. 

6 



?7' 



IN PREPARATION 



Greek Authors 

ARISTOTLE, METAPHYSICS. II. Tredennick. 

ARISTOTLE, ON THE MOTION AND PROGRESSION 
OF ANIMALS. E. S. Forster. 

ARISTOTLE, ORGANON. W. M. L. Hutchinson. 

ARISTOTLE, PHYSICS. Rev. P. Wicksteed. 

ARISTOTLE, POLITICS and ATHENIAN CONSTI- 
TUTION. II. Rackham. 

ARRIAN, HIST. OF ALEXANDER AND INDICA. Rev. 
E. Iliffe Robson. 2 \^ols. 

DEMOSTHENES, OLYNTHIACS, PHILIPPICS, LEP- 
TINES AND MINOR SPEECHES. J. H. Vince. 

DEMOSTHENES, MEIDIAS, ANDROTION, ARISTO- 
CRATES, TIMOCRATES. J. H. Vince. 

DEMOSTHENES, PRIVATE ORATIONS. G. M. Calhoun. 

DIO CHRYSOSTOM. J. VV. Cohoon. 

GREEK IAMBIC AND ELEGIAC POETS and the 
ANACREONTEA. J.M.Edmonds. 

LYSIAS. W. R. M. Lamb. 

MANETHO. S. de Ricci. 

PAPYRL A. S. Hunt. 

PHILOSTRATUS, IMAGINES. Arthur Fairbanks. 

PLATO, REPUBLIC. Paul Shorey. 

PLATO, TIMAEUS, CRITIAS, CLITOPHO, MENEXE- 
NUS, EPISTULAE. Rev. R. G. Bury. 

SEXTUS EMPIRICUS. Rev. R. G. Bury. 



Latin Authors 

AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS. J. C. Rolfe. 
BEDE, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. J. E. King. 

CICERO, IN CATILINAM, PRO MURENA, PR" 

SULLA. B. L. Ullmann. 
CICEKO, DE NATURA DEORUM. II. Rackham. 

CICERO, DE ORATORE, ORATOR, BRUTUS. Charles 

Stuttaford. 
CICERO, IN PISONEM, PRO SCAURO, PRO FONTEIO, 

PRO MILONE, etc. N. H. Watts. 

Ci'^ERO, PRO QUINCTIO, PRO ROSCIO AMERIN* ', 

PRO ROSCIO COMOEDO, CONTRA RULLUM. J. H. 

Freese. 
CICERO, PRO SEXTIO, IN VATINIUM, PRO CAELIO, 

PRO PROVINCIIS CONSULARIHUS, PRO BALH( ). 

]. H. Freese. 
CORNELIUS NEPOS. J. C. Rolfe. 
ENNIUS, LUCILIUS and other specimens of Old Latin. 

E. H. Warniington. 
FLORUS. E. S. Forsler. 
MINUCIUS FELIX. W. C. A. Ker. 
OVID: ARS AMATORIA, REMEDIA AMORIS. etc. 

J. II. Mozley. 
OVID, FASTI. Sir J. G. Frazer. 
PLINY, NATURAL HISTORY. W. H. S. Jones and L. F. 

Newman. 
ST. AUGUSTINE, MINOR WORKS. J. H. Baxter. 
ST. JEROME'S LETTERS. F. A. Wright. 
SIDONIUS, LETTERS. E. V. Arnold and W. B. Anderson. 
TACITUS, ANNALS. John Jackson, 
TERTULLIAN : APOLOGY. T. R. Glover. 
VALERIUS FLACCUS. A. F. Scholfield. 
VITRUVIUS, DE ARCHITECTURA. F. Granger. 

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